It would depend on the circumstances. If the demographics are right, having 10-15% of a population die of old age in a 10-15 year period wouldn't be unusual. What do you think government would do about this, and why don't you answer the original question?
"It would depend on the circumstances. If the demographics are right, having 10-15% of a population die of old age in a 10-15 year period wouldn't be unusual. What do you think government would do about this, and why don't you answer the original question?"
These people didn't die of old age. They did from famine and disease following the collapse of the central government. So, do you think the prevention of the deaths of a million people from disease and famine is a legitimate function of government?
The original question? By that I presume you mean do I think any central government could have prevented this? Well, it happened after the central government collapsed, not before.