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First Word From Ethiopia

Written by Eric Reynolds

September 14, 2011

Drought has brought death to Ethiopia. CEO of Global Aid Network (GAiN) Bill Blaney reported earlier this week on the unfolding catastrophe. His broken phone messages revealed a snapshot of the atrocities in the Horn of Africa.

Blaney describes his drive through southern Ethiopia as a dead wasteland. Blaney, who has lived in Arizona, says the striking thing is the death of all desert vegetation.

“Trees are dead, birds have moved on, and the cattle have been reduced to bones.” Cattle are crucial to survival of Ethiopian culture and the devastation has made the situation desperate. “The need is not just in the refugee camps but everywhere… from southern Ethiopia to Northern Kenya and of course Somalia,” says Blaney.

More updates will follow as Blaney and staff seek to help in small but life-changing ways. They recognize that they can’t help everyone, but are determined to do whatever they can to save as many lives as possible. Continue to give, pray, and stay posted for more GAiN updates on the crisis in Ethiopia.