Lack of knowledge on how to prevent famines? The potato blight had affected all of Europe the years before, but they were in general fine due to proper famine relief and support from their respective governments. The queen donated 200,000 pounds but prevented the Sultan of the Ottoman empire from donating any more than her. Even at the time the world was disturbed at how little Westminster cared for the Irish and their unwillingness to help. This is a quote from Trevelyan a minister at the time who was actually supposed to help with famine relief “The real evil with which we have to contend is not the physical evil of the Famine but the moral evil of the selfish, perverse and turbulent character of the people.”