Do you capitalize the words starvation in a sentence?

No, "starvation" is not capitalized unless it is the first word of a sentence or part of a proper noun.

Here are some examples:

* Correct: The children were suffering from starvation.

* Correct: Starvation is a serious problem in many countries.

* Correct: The Great Starvation was a tragic event in Irish history. (Here, "Starvation" is part of a proper noun)