Powdery scab is a pervasive soilborne disease that compromises the quality and marketability of potato tubers. It is caused by the obligate biotrophic protozoan Spongospora subterranea, which induces ... In both situations there is a lack of resources which causes people to die.

Context Explanation

This sentence should be read as follows: there's a lack of some resources, and it is this lack that's causing deaths. In effect, without those resources people die; the resources help avoid death. Unfortunately, there's a lack of those resources. This sentence makes sense, and is what you probably want to write.

Insight Material

grammar - When should I use "cause" and "causes"? - English Language ... Or: Is this the only factor that causes such tragedies? In that form, the singular factor matches with the verb causes. Your sentence mixes the plural rooms with the singular factor, making it hard for you to figure out which form the verb cause (s) should take.

Final Conclusion

(This isn’t necessarily ungrammatical, but sometimes this can make a sentence ... What causes coral bleaching ? What does cause coral bleaching ? What is the difference?? Which is grammatically correct? word choice - What causes X or What does cause X?

- English Language ... The drug causes an adverse reaction in patients with a history of heart disease. So why "make" not "cause"? As Robusto says in the above comment, "make" just sounds less forceful and somewhat nicer.