In both situations there is a lack of resources which causes people to die. 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.

Understanding the Context

Unfortunately, there's a lack of those resources. This sentence makes sense, and is what you probably want to write. Or: Is this the only factor that causes such tragedies? In that form, the singular factor matches with the verb causes.

Key Insights

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. (This isn’t necessarily ungrammatical, but sometimes this can make a sentence ... What causes you concern about the clauses’ having different subjects? Consider I thought she liked ice cream. Onlymyhealth on MSN: Is fainting dangerous?

Final Thoughts

Know its causes, symptoms, and treatment Fainting happens when your brain doesn’t get enough blood. Dehydration, shock, too much alcohol, and even anxiety can lead to fainting. If you think you’re about to faint, lie down or put your head ... grammar - When should I use "cause" and "causes"? - English Language ... 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?