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Hope For Some In Ethiopia

Written by Eric Reynolds

September 16, 2011

“Help us before we die like our cattle,” is the plea coming from the Horn of Africa. A recent update from Global Aid Network (GAiN) CEO Bill Blaney brought captivating news and mixed emotions. “Droughts don’t recognize borders,” says Blaney from Hidi in the Miyo district. He recently updated followers at home on the status of the devastation as well as GAiN’s distribution of aid in the region.

“In God’s timing, we arrived at a clan leader meeting and were able to speak with a variety of nomadic peoples,” Blaney explains. GAiN has made contact with the Borana tribe, which consists of 2500 people: 364 family units, and 50 clans. They are essentially waiting for the rains to return in substantial amounts, a reality Blaney sees as a far-off hope.

“Children and elderly suffer the worst. Many children can hardly lift their heads. Fields that used to grow crops are now recognizable only because of the plough lines. Otherwise, they are sand pits.”

GAiN has learned they are the third NGO to visit this specific group of people in the past month, only to leave and never return. Blaney says it is imperative to continue aid and remain a faithful presence. “We must prove to them that we are good for our word. We are buying 7500 dollars of food to fulfill our promise to help.”

GAiN staff took plenty of distribution footage and photographs are on their way. Hopes are that the media will rouse attention for the plight of those perishing.

Loose the chains of injustice, set the oppressed free, share your food with the hungry, provide the poor wanderer with shelter, when you see the naked, clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.

– Isaiah 58:6-8