I don't where you have seen this but it is the opposite of how I usually is. Generally the region revolts which is what causes such low pop regions because they continue to starve until there is around a thousand or less peasants. It has just recently been softened so that you keep the region a bit longer to be able to save it but revolting quicker just causes more death.
I did say a starved region would revolt quicker, not than the revolt would 'save' lives or resolve the hunger...
Probably would be first riots, then revolts and finally massive emigrations... if they have a non-starved neighbour to go.
