The mass famine that struck Kazakhstan in the 1930s left a profound and lasting scar on the Kazakh people. During these years, a vast number of Kazakhs and representatives of other ethnic groups living on Kazakh soil perished due to starvation and related diseases. In search of food, they wandered through villages and cities, fled to neighboring republics, and even beyond the country's borders. However, the situation of Kazakh refugees remained dire even in these places. The food assistance provided to them was insufficient. The situation of children who ended up in orphanages and orphanages was very difficult.

This article, based on archival documents, eyewitness accounts, and scholarly research, examines the plight of Kazakh refugees and the measures taken by the state to assist them. By providing examples of the refugees' hardships, the authors analyze the ways in which they returned to their homelands. Special attention is also given to the implementation of legislative acts (orders and decrees) adopted by the government.

The study addresses the spread of infectious diseases, the provision of medical aid, and the distribution of food to the starving. It explores the processes of resettling returning Kazakh refugees in temporary housing and providing them with employment. Additionally, the article assesses the damage inflicted by the famine on the economy and demography of the Kazakh people.