Suffering in Ethiopia

Desperate families sell the roofs over their heads for food

Kabeto never thought things would come to this.

ChildFund is targeting its drought relief efforts on children 5 and younger and their mothers, who are most at risk of nutritional deficiencies.

“We lost all our crops,” says this village leader in Ethiopia. “First, it was because of the heavy rain that washed out the harvest. Again we planted, but then the rain didn’t come at all. We depend on rain, and it has failed us!”

Kabeto is just one of the more than 12.4 million people the U.N. estimates are at risk in the Horn of Africa, which includes three countries where ChildFund works — Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

“People are doing everything they can to feed their family,” he says. “They do the unexpected.”

No one imagines selling off their household goods to buy food, but many in Ethiopia and Kenya are doing exactly that — letting go of the table, a chair, a well-used pot, the bedding, until nothing is left.

Next to go is the livestock, if any have survived ... Read More

Two Storms Impact Mozambique

On Jan. 16, Tropical Depression Dando made landfall on the coast of Mozambique, lashing the southern part of the country with rains and winds it hasn’t seen since Tropical Storm Domoina killed 700 people there in 1984. One week after Dando, Tropical Storm Funso is following close behind.

Flash Flooding Sweeps the Southern Philippines

During the night of Dec. 16, a tropical storm struck the Philippines on the island of Mindanao, coinciding with the high tide. This caused widespread flash flooding that affected some communities where ChildFund operates. Currently there are no reports of casualties or missing families from our assisted communities, although some of their homes were damaged.

Food Situation Remains Grave in Horn of Africa

In eastern Africa, the worst drought since the 1950s has now enveloped more than 13 million people. Many live in three countries where ChildFund works: Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Crops have failed, food prices have soared and long-term food shortages are endangering the lives of children, who are suffering acute malnutrition.

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