Ethiopia first burned itself into the West’s collective memory with the horrific famines of 1973 and 1984, when hundreds of thousands starved to death

Today, at a time when international donors are distracted by a string of humanitarian disasters around the world, Ethiopia is in the grip of a devastating drought sparked by the worst El Niño in a generation, and aid agencies warn that food aid could run out as soon as May.

In December, they said about 10.2 million people were in need of $1.4 billion in aid, with 400,000 children severely malnourished. This is in addition to 8 million people supported by the government safety net even before the drought and the worst could be yet to come.

“Now we are begging for rain,” said Raimah Sayyed, 70, as she cuddled her half-naked grandchild and absently tore leaves off a nearby bush and chewed on them. “If the rain comes, everything will be okay.”

Do not help now and we won’t have to wait six months from now to see hungry babies dying on our television screens.

JMD

jmdlive@lefuturistedailynews.com

JMD is a talented Keynote and Motivational Speaker, Writer, Columnist, Public Affairs & Communications Strategist.

https://jmdlive.com/