YWAM Organizes Famine Relief in Africa’s Horn

While aid groups and political movements argue about the severity of
the food crisis in the eastern Horn of Africa, it is clear to everyone
that an overwhelming number of people are desperate for help in this
region that has experienced two consecutive poor rainy seasons. The
drought in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya has resulted in a humanitarian
crisis worse than any seen for more than 60 years.

YWAM associates in
east Africa have reported from the area that the crisis is worse in some
areas than others. In parts of Kenya alone, drought victims number over
4 million—many of them are unreached tribal people, and 80 percent of the
victims are women and children. In Somalia, the victims number around
3.7 million.

YWAM staff member, Amir Ibrahim*, explains how the nomad
community who depend on cattle for a living are desperate for relief
food, as the drought has diminished their food options.

“The
locals depend on livestock for livelihood and for business. Most of the
animals have died and the few that are left are so weak they cannot
fetch a price at the local market,” Ibrahim says. “All this is because
there was no rainfall for the last expected rainy season. In two trips
to Dadaab, Liboi and Madogashe I saw carrions of dead animals all over
the roadside and malnourished children begging for water.”

Ibrahim is
trying to organize truckloads of relief food, in cooperation with local
leaders and other aid agency experts to assist the starving residents
of the worst-affected districts. The trucks will deliver up to 17 days
worth of maize, rice and cooking oil to 100,000 people.

“What can we do as Christians who love our neighbors? I am
reminded of the story of the Good Samaritan—that the person who shows
act of mercy is the real and true neighbour,” Ibrahim says. “Our acts of practical
assistance will open doors in this region.”

*name changed for security