oskudica

1. (+ gen.) shortage; scarcity; lack
   Leti u selu često vlada oskudica vode. — In summer the village often suffers from a water shortage.
   U bolnici je velika oskudica medicinskih sestara. — The hospital has a serious shortage of nurses.
2. poverty; want; hardship
   Odrasli su u velikoj oskudici. — They grew up in great poverty.
   Mnoge porodice i danas žive u oskudici. — Many families still live in want today.

In the sense of shortage it usually takes the genitive: oskudica vode, oskudica hrane.