Barren fields met our staff members’ eyes as they entered the drought-stricken Borena region in southern Ethiopia. In the past three years, an estimated 3.3 million cows, camels, and goats starved in this region. People here used to make a living primarily from raising livestock. But after five failed rainy seasons, hunger is a sharp, gnawing problem.
Weather extremes are not the only cause of acute food insecurity in Ethiopia. Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire as the powerful ethnic groups of Oromo and Amharic people fight for control. Armed groups have set fire to buses full of people while shooting at innocent men, women, and children trying to escape. This violence has caused thousands of people to flee to refugee camps to escape the bloodshed.
One survivor, Panya,* is Amharic and his wife is Oromo. One day, the Oromo militia attacked his home and forced his wife to stay there while they chased Panya and their children away. Panya fled with his children to a camp for displaced people.
A camp leader said, “People are starving. We need food!” Even though the men go into town and look for work, the language barrier makes it extremely difficult to get a job. These Amharic people grew up in Oromo regions and don’t know the Amharic language.
Through staff, contacts, and loyal supporters, we are responding to the food crisis in Ethiopia and other places around the globe. Our prayer is that these food distributions will encourage God’s people and show the love of Jesus to unbelievers.
*Name has been changed.
If you wish to help provide food in Ethiopia, Haiti, Belarus, and other countries, click the donate button to give a gift.
