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Subscribe to RSSFrancesco Zizola, NOOR, writes:
In 2009, when reporting from Southern Ethiopia, I promised myself never to cover another famine. Bearing witness to the death of thousands of people, children for the most part, had worn me out. It’s hard to look at pictures like these, but for me they are especially hard to take.
There’s always the risk of falling into the stereotype of an African body – of a child in most cases – worn out by hardship and despair. In the Western countries we are aware of what is happening in Africa, but our souls of privileged citizens are hardly touched by these photographs. For me it’s different, I bring those images and that suffering inside of me for a long time afterwards. They haunt me at night.
Francesco Zizola / NOOR via Redux
In the Lake Turkana area of Kenya, nomadic herdsmen are hit hard by a year-long drought that is creating famine in the area.
The alarm on famine launched this year pushed me to approach the subject once more. The causes of the present crisis have been ascribed in large part to climate change, a topic I have been working on for some time with my colleagues at NOOR.
I took the decision to give it a second try and set off for Northern Kenya, avoiding places besieged by the media circus, like the Dadaab refugee camp, near the border with Somalia. In North-western Kenya, between the Sudanese border and the Ethiopian border, the drought has been claiming many lives among the agro-pastoral communities of the Turkana people, who inhabit the region around Lake Turkana. As I am told, the drought is affecting only part of the region, but such unevenness has triggered another tragedy: livestock-rustling.
Communities badly affected by the drought start looking for new pastures for their goatherds, camels or cattle, attacking and trying to uproot the communities already settled in the occupied areas. It’s a desperate fight for resources, which respects no law and no border.
Luckily, I didn't witness any deaths in the central Turkana district, where I spent nearly two weeks. The drought is severe. Rainfalls have failed for over a year in some areas, in others for five.
Thanks to their nomadic character, the tribal communities living in the region are succeeding in rescuing their livestock, upon which their own survival depends. Unfortunately only the strong can flee from the drought, leaving the weak behind, like children – often malnourished – and the elderly. The survival of the weak is the real emergency. (Translated by Valentina Tordoni)
View more of Zizola's images from northern Kenya.
See more coverage of the drought and famine hitting the Horn of Africa.
Leave a Comment:
I feel very bad for them.
Who is taking care of our poverty strickened families here in the USA? The homeless that has lost everything due to this horrible economy. When are we going to start reporting on the USA? What? We don't want the world to know we can't even take care of our own but hey we can help these other coutries.
YOU have the opportunity to take care of the poverty strickened families here in the USA.
Why are you waiting for someone else to do something?
Well RI Mom, please share what you are doing for 'the poverty strickened families here in the USA'. Last I checked they are suffereing pretty bad.
I am doing everything I can. I donate all of my unwanted items to my local shelter. Not to Goodwill or Salvation army. My company (3,000+ employees) and myself donate all unwanted items, we do drives for shampoos and personal care items for our local shelters. We donate time to serve food to the homeless, we donate time and products to clean up the shelters to help those less fortunate.
RI Mom - what are you doing? Most people think people choose to be homeless... they don't circumstances to happen to even the best of us. I hope you and yours are never there.
PA Mom must have a heart like I do :)
i have been in the poor parts of the USA and the poor parts of africa. In the USA even the poorest are considerably better off. We have food banks, medical clinics, any mcD's throws away more food in a day then these kids have likely eaten in a year. There are many experiencing hardship in the US but it still does not compare to 600,000 children living on deaths door. It is also interesting the US is so quick to throw away the 'entitlements' from the USA govt. maybe those who are advocating for that should look a little closer at Kenya and Somalia and see what life without 'entitlements' looks like....
What's really sad is that these are the images we will see in North America within the next 100 years. We are increasingly depleting our resources and growing exponentially in numbers. Why people have children that they know they cannot support is beyond me. I have also written several times to world vision and other humanitarian agencies about supporting birth control and options for abortion but the are vehemently against it.
I know a lot of Americans are doing withour a lot of " THINGS " right now but I have yet to see an American look like one of these children . Its catastrophic whats happening there. I think we need to stop and realize that there are people worse off then ourselves. We can help people here and there. No need to have to choose. One country is suffering unemployment the other a famine. You whiners need to make a gratitude list . You can always tell the selfish people they start whinning about their own bad circumstances , so they can feel ok about putting a lock on their wallet. Just be honest and say you don't want to donate .
If this type of job haunts him, then don't do it, and don't expect any sympathy for yourself or the people in Africa. For the last 50 years that is all my family and I have heard is the poor suffering in Africa. Give your hard earned penny's and nickles to help the starving. Want the starving to stop, then push birth control. If you can only feed one, then only have one.
Never once in all those years did we hear one thing about helping our own starving people, the poor, and dying on the streets in this country. Somehow they were regulated to less than deserving of our penny's and nickles. We don't give and have not for the last 10 years one penny to any organizations that puts other countries above the U. S. poor citizens.
Aren't entitlement benefits too high in this county? Isn't that what the conservatives keep saying?
SERIOUSLY ?
Same advice I gave to Poster # 1: YOU can try helping our own starving people.
Let me guess...this article was about you:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44084236/ns/health-behavior/
I think it's another nature and/or nuture discussion on how people's outlooks differ on their fellow man's plight.
Of which this article is a part.
You, quite simply, are a member of the "lucky sperm club"; you were born in the United States. These starving children in Africa know nothing of politics or borders or birth control, they are CHILDREN. They did not ask to be born, all they know is that they are starving, in pain, and they do not know why. They are human beings just as deserving as YOU and anyone else born in this country or anywhere else. Shame on you; think bigger.
Wow! Your insight scares me. First, Africa has been pillaged for hundreds of years for profit of occupying countries. These people are a result of actions that is beyond their control and it is our responsibility as a global community to help them. I am a teacher in a poverty strictened area here in the United States where 80% of my students qualify for free breakfast and lunch programs. I am sure that children who live in Kenya and Somalia would think that they were in heaven to receive just one of those meals that a large majority of students receive. There is a different kind of generosity that exists in the culture in my school because they truly understand what it feels like to be hungry. By your comment it seems to me that you have never been in this state of hunger. Today famine is taking the lives of our worlds weakest people but it may not be far in our own history that this may become us. If this day does come I really hope that there are people who'll show me humane care.
I bet you think you're a loving Christian.
You don't have to be a christian to be loving , some people are suffering a different kind of famine , its called a lack of any kind of empathy or care for their human family. To bad we can't donate some of our empathy and care to these people . I can easily name them they are called ME,ME,ME.
Yes, of course we have it bad. Our politicians know nothing, do nothing, accomplish nothing. Starving children, by the tens of thousands, are another matter which far transcends the vitriol we currently feel for our elected representatives. We need to help where and when we can. That's what Americans do, even when our own institutions deal us nothing but crap. Rise above it and help them if you can. You, and I, will sleep better and a few souls may live to see another day. It's a small planet and we're all here together.
Shame on you, Mom from RI, typical response from someone uneducated on the plight of children in Somalia. They don't have a choice....they are starving...
3.1
HUH? what are you accusing me of?
the world needs to change and if there where more caring loving people the world would be a better place. Instead we are selfless, ignorant, and small minded.
Some of the biggest pig-@!$%#ers on the planet wallow in their own @!$%# down in Washington with the sole aim of ruining our economy -- and our country at large -- to advance their own political aspirations, while others are content to squander precious lives, limbs and huge economic resources to rehabilitate worthless countries like Pakistan and Afghanastan...while millions of children starve to death in Africa. And to think if we did things like we know we're capable of we could simply make that not happen. Do we not get it? WFT? Heartbreaking. Shame on us for allowing it to be this way.
Stop having children you can't feed.Problem solved, these people know the consequences of unprotected sex.With 5 kids no water no jobs what do you expect to happen.After having your first born starving don't you think it's to change your ways no not them lets have 4 more and let them starve too.
Unprotected sex? Eric, you are a prime example of fat cat hatred of the poor. These people are starving. How in the h*ll do you think they are going to get birth control???
Oh, let me guess. They shouldn't have sex, then. Don't worry. With time, they'll be too weak and then they'll die. As you put it, problem solved.
not to mention that alot of these children a born from rape. the woman try to do the best that they can with what little they have. i don't have an answer, but i can only have humanly feelings for these poor innocent people. i believe in god, but sometimes don't understand how this exists. some people are born to wealth and never have to worry about anything their entire life, then some people are born into having to fight to survive, day after day and are subjected to a life that most livestock in america would never experience.
Too bad someone didn't think about birth control before you were born. Then we would have one less selfish , arrogant person taking up valuable space in the world.
Just think of how much self-importance, mindlessness and arrogance would disappear if religion simply disappeared...
Stop having children you can't feed.Problem solved, these people know the consequences of unprotected sex.With 5 kids no water no jobs what do you expect to happen.After having your first born starving don't you think it's to change your ways no not them lets have 4 more and let them starve too.
Peg, I agree with you. When are journalists going to report hunger and homelessness in America? Someone very dear to me recently passed away in California due to poverty. He had a lot of dental problems and lived in pain since he had no money to see a dentist. He died due to mental and physical health ailment which he couldn't get help because he had no health insurance.
America spends billions every year on foreign aids. The people of these underdeveloped countries are not receiving the benefit because their government is extremely corrupted. The financial support they get is not being passed onto the people.
aa70l I am so sorry for your loss. If we took care of our own, maybe your friend would still be here.
It's very sad that US citizens can not get the help they need. I have a neighbor that is a vietnam vet. He's 65 and lost his job 3 years ago. He has depleted his savings and his teeth are falling out of his mouth. I have personally tried to find a dentist to help him. Everyone wants money up front and he has no dental insurance either.
We can support everyone else but our own. I recently went to my local Dept of Health and Human Services as I donate to them too. I think I saw 6 Americans signing up for benefits and about 40 from other countries. This really ticks me off. What Country could I move to and have them buy my food and pay my rent? Grrrr.
Unable to post the link. Just go to whoswatchingoverme.com
“Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible.” Charles Dickens
8.1
YOU T H I N K you saw ???? What kind of statement is that?
Your posts are getting weirder.
Let's see Obama do something about his ancestral lands on this one, or will he cave in on this attempt at mitigating America's image in the rest of the free world...
If you truly "feel very bad for them" then why act like a superior jerk? Are you able to tell me that?
One moment you make such a weak statement and the next you go on to Rail Against doing anything to help another human being on this planet. *Shakes Head*
To be honest your post would have been more effective if you would have spoken about the need to "Also do something to help those in the US who are starving and struggling to feed themselves". Instead of course you'd rather turn the starvation of children and elderly in another country into a platform for you to whinge about US Politics and of course the Economy.
The fact that the US helps other countries is NOT the problem! The fact that we do NOTHING to actually come together and help people in this Country IS the problem.
But tell me now: You who have so much concern for the people that are dying in this country --- Do you buy them food when you see them out in the hot sun begging? Hell, do you even bother to take them water so they don't die of dehydration?
My guess would be --- No!
So until you are willing to help out your fellow human where YOU live don't even think about railing against our country not doing anything! For one why don't You Get Of Your BUM And Actually Do Something About It! Hell, why don't you actually lobby Washington to help out financially. Hell, why don't YOU ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT IT!
And yes I quite enjoy feeding the poor people stuck without jobs on the sidewalk at Walmart begging for help in this abdominal Climate Change. No, I won't give them money to buy junk food, but I will give them food that will not rot in the hot sun and bottles of water to drink. After all giving them soda not only is Not Healthy all it does is dehydrate a person. Besides if they are truly hungry they will take whatever healthy food and drink they can get their hands on because being hungry means that any food is welcome.
We don't have people on Walmart sidewalks begging for food or water. Sure don't let them enjoy anything that they did at one time when they could afford to buy what they wanted. You make healthy food decisions for them. If you read my earlier posts I do what I can.
I have also raised thousands of dollars for victims of domestic violence. What are you doing for your less fortunate neighbors? If you're such a wonderful person, go to my website and donate. I am sure I won't see you there. If I don't, buy some personal care items and take them to your local domestic violence victims. Buy some "treats" for your local homeless. They are people.
Unable to post the link just go to whoswatchingoverme.com
10.2
Dear Peg,
Apparently YOU are very vocal on ALL that YOU do....your subsequent posts are very self-serving on your charitable largess.
Exactly how much "unwanted items" do you have? Your cast-offs aren't charity...they are de-cluttering for a tax write-off.
Protest all you want, but your posts are disingenuous.
As for me...Doctors Without Borders has my chaitable vote...I give $$$...my old cast-offs would not feed a hungry child.
HEY RI-MOM. Go *^% yourself. A LOT of very poor people are able to make ends meet from the charitible donations people give to the Goodwill, etc, enabling them to get their needs met at VERY low cost. The money they save getting some basic needs met (used clothing, housewares, etc) enable them to have a little more money for food.
What kind of a cow does it take to even hate people who give to the Goodwill!!?? It must suck to be you.
Bob Dylan was thinking of you when he wrote the lyrics to Positively 4th Street.
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/positively-4th-street
Dearest Bernitch:
F A M I N E
the story is about STARVATION
Agreed. I still took the time to respond to your IGNORANT comments, above (which were also off topic, princess!)
To think, Africa is the root, the beginning of all mankind - all races. It's horrible that we as a nation, as a world, cannot do more to help these people. The photos of the children are heartbreaking - no child deserves to live or be treated in this way. All the rich, selfish hateful people of the US and the world should be humbled.
We are not all hateful people. Adopt a homeless person at your local shelter for a day. Buy them their meals whatever that may be. and maybe some new clothing for just one day. Adopt a person from another country. We that are able do what we can to help those in need.
Just saying, we can all help others from every where in our own way
11.1
ADOPT A HOMELESS PERSON FOR A DAY ???
Seriously?
Did you send them off with all your unwanted items?.....(Post 1.3)...and a bottle of shampoo?
America needs donations and volunteer help to assist the much maligned ( by Conservatives) "entitlement" programs.
The most generous volunteers & donors NEVER brag.
Those babies, toddlers, mothers in Somalia don't have an "adopt a child" for ONE DAY program.
Would it really kill all the NAY-SAYERS on this vine to send $10.00 to a legitimate relief organization?
this is so wrong. I wish I could do more than donate $50.00.
I recently saw a documentary about aids from a small village in Africa. Condoms was introduced but the men in this village said it's not natural to wear condom during sex. One of the men said, "I take my pants off I'm not going to put something on it." They rather get aids, pass on the disease than put on a condom. In order to help someone successfully, the person in crises needs to help him/herself first.
Yes, this is sad. Practices around sex can be very stigmatized and hard to change. Imagine not knowing how AIDS really works and being told to wear an uncomfortable and possibly emasculating device on your sex organ? That's why education headed by local officials would be best. Regardless, what was the point of this comment here? Are you saying that African children deserve to starve since some men (as men are want to do anywhere) are getting all machismo?
I fail to see what condoms has to do with drought and famine.
I'm wondering if there is some way that we could adopt the children in those areas for a time. Allow them to come here until the problems have passed, so that they can survive. I can't imagine what the children must feel like or the parents who have to leave them behind.
WOW...whatever we believe about the use of condoms, or however we believe our economy is going...what has any of that to do with the children? Did they not use a condom? Did they fail to feel their neighbors? Did they not give you a job? NOOO....it's not about any of those things. It's about children who are so weak from lack of food and water, that their parents have to keep the ones who are not weak fed, so the weak ones are being left to die. Look at the pictures? If your neighbor's child looked like that..what would you do?
More than that...how would you feel if it were your child?
I can guarantee all of you that any wanker who posted all the hate filled bigotry on this commentary would crumple up and wither away if they had to experience one tiny bit of what anyone in a famine endures. Take your pontificating nastiness and please, just go away. How can you even think let alone write such horse sh*t? Beyond horrible. Beyond mean. America is better than this. America is better than what I've read here.
I agree with most of the comments. We need to take care of our own here at home first. They need to educate public health workers workers, learn about birth control and not cater to a religious fundamentalism that tells you need to have multiple wives and have children you cannot support. As long as they want to wallow in ignorance they don't deserve the assistance as they will never learn and just continue the behavior that causes their problems.
FYI....We have already brought in 250,000 somalians into this country. As it turns out some of them are alqiada. The ones that have stayed are now working a job that an American had. An American that is now unemployed by the way. Wondering how he is going to feed his own family.
It's sad that the horn of Africa is in such a situation. But it pretty much always has been. You would think by now they would have enough sense to control their population. (Hell no, the other countries will feed us.)
Do you realize how tough things are here in the USA? Or have you been eating from a silver spoon all your life.
AMERICA FIRST !!!
aren't you just a lovely human? I certainly hope that you will never be in a situation where you will know what their pain and suffering really feels like....or for their sake, I certainly hope you are...
tHERE YOU GO AGAIN , me,me,me.
It's sad that the horn of Africa is in such a situation. But it pretty much always has been. You would think by now they would have enough sense to control their population. (Hell no, the other countries will feed us.
I find that comment so funny! Isn't that how so many of our citizens think!!!! this era of entitlement! our youth and even the government. We live in a society of ME, ME, Me and after reading the selfishness and hypocrisy on here by so many it really makes me sad. There are so many people in this country living beyond their means, and in the process have put themselves into difficult situations. I see it all the time, they don't have money to pay their house payment but they have money for a pack of cig, or a big gulp! They have cell phones and internet but can't afford a gallon of milk. It's about choice people! and making good ones. The people over there don't have the choices or options we have here. It's about cutting back and saying do I really need this, and saving for a rainy day so that when there are others in need you can do something.
I also want to say, it makes me sick the people on here tooting their own horns about doing this or that! Service to others should be done in secret! Not for the recognition of others!
Finally a thought, I had a talk the other day with my children. Their father was getting on to them repeatedly about wasting things and not rotating groceries and leftovers. I don't think there are to many parents who haven't told their kids to eat up because there are children starving in Africa...but hearing it and seeing it is way different. I was very touched at a picture last week of a mother holding her starving baby. I brought my children in and showed them the slideshow of the children over there. I wanted them to realize that there are children who truly would eat the scraps that they waste and be grateful for it, that we as human beings have a responsibility to be wise servants of the things we are so blessed with. So that we can help others who are suffering. You may think because these people are over in a different country that it's not our problem but when we as a people become so cold hearted to the plight of any human being regardless of country and boundaries there is a problem. Humanity and kindness is what has made this country great, but it's quickly changing and that is what scares me the most! Those children are just that, children. Who don't deserve what they've been brought into. Our children in this country don't even know what poverty is! even at it's worse we don't have corpses walking around as unpleasant as it may be!
D for D: write a big THANK YOU note to the republican party for the state we're in.
Better yet, encourage people to continue voting republican, and let's see how really bad BAD can get.
So since it is basically a two party system independents are a wasted vote you believe that going down the list and voting for one party who ever has the R or D next to there name is the way to get something accomplished.
Well that is one of your most interesting comments Bernitch interesting but dumb as usual as the old guy on laugh In would say!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlVWArmysic&feature=related
And to think of all the money and resources being poured into pointless wars right now, all those planes and ships. They could be doing so much good, that really is needed right now, instead.
I feel so bad for the little guy in the photo. Wish I could jump into the picture and bring him some food.
Nothing like pictures of starving children to bring out the best in conservatives.
Yes, I'm a struggling conservative, who has compassion and wish I could do more to help the suffering. Maybe if the politicians, both liberals and conservatives, could get their act together and stop spending our hard earned money in stupid ways, I would have more to help with.
Nice cop out. You struggling to make ends meet in the largest economy in the world is someone else's fault. I thought you guys were all about self reliance, or is that only when someone else needs help?
I donate what I can to help. If you noticed, I said conservative politicians are wasting our money too. Everyone knows the gov't. is wasteful. Be honest.
I'd like to add that the sentiment behind my original comment about jumping into the picture came from my own young child, who asked me to put that sentiment on the comment page. Pure innocence and compassion. There's no room for criticism of that!
<sarcasm> yeah ok but what about the election of 2012? and what's going to happen next on Glee? what about the picture of rabid wide eyed Michele? come on, starving kids but really let's worry about the more important things in the world </sarcasm>
Who has time to watch Glee, or anything else on T.V. for that matter? Too busy working!
Drought is not the problem. The men obviously have no sexual self control. They are the ones causing all the suffering. Right this moment there is probably another 12 year old becoming a mother. Those monsters running around having their way with the women were once like the little boy in the photo. The cycle has got to stop. There has always been drought somewhere on the huge continent of Africa. All we are doing is giving them just enough food so they have the energy to reproduce. We are only prolonging their misery. It has reduced humans down to a level lower than rats. If someone was sticking needles in their eyes you wouldn't run and give them pain killers would you? You would try instead to take the needles away!