Despite understanding the content, I think it was to forceful say that she die of starvation, for sure can figure the people stomach howling, or the effects of not eating for long like becoming skinny, also they might not be able to eat all but they can eat the inside of the vegetal, roots like potato and carrot (still, its looks like it was already collected), can't pass the bridge ? WTF as if people can't cross swimming or with small rafts or boats (why a village close to a river wont use it to fishing?), that said the problem here might be drinkable water (I don't know if volcano ashes can or how long it does if can poison waters), this was poorly developed to show how his sister die, she is not a small character since was the reason for him be like that, I'm mad right now