A combination of failed rains and soaring global food prices has left more than 12 million people living in remote areas across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia facing hunger, according to aid agencies. Oxfam has launched its largest ever appeal to try and stop famine.
Save the Children say that more than a quarter of children in the worst-hit parts of Kenya are now dangerously malnourished.
In the world biggest refugee camp in Dadaab in Northern Kenya, designed for 90,000 people, there are fears the population could reach 500,000.
More than 1,300 new are arriving every day needing food and shelter. Most are from Somalia, where there has been 20 years of conflict and 2 years of drought and it is estimated 40 per cent of population “in crisis”.
Telegraph
But most people do not seem to agre with that notion. Why do you think China is doing so well? Because of their policy of having just one child. I just wish India and Pakistan and other third world countries would adopt the same policy.. Just imagine how we can progress as a nation if we just had one child.. The population of all these third world countries could reduce to half in a matter of years..
I agree.. But i was responding to Kareena wanting to completely do away with poverty.As a society we can educate, provide birth control devices etc, but should not force such things.
Brit, having too many children due to lack of birth control is part of the biggest problem in the world, from the spread of disease to malnutrition to poverty etc.
Not apologising for anything...just stating a fact that you seem to have missed...
Since you obviously aren't african, you have no idea how africans think... do go and study the history of the african culture and you will notice how for centuries before anyone arrive there, they were killing each other...
BTW, its their culture - the fittest and strongest survive....
Who will look after the poor parents or carry on the blood lines or till the land or clean the houses ?
I know it sounds sort of crude but it is true.. If you want to erradicate poverty from the world, get rid of the poor first.. No no I am not saying kill them but as Mercia said, give them birth control.. Force them with birth control injection or bribe them saying that all women who come and get their tubes closed will get a reward of so and so amount of money.. I am sure women will just come for the money and then voila, no more poor kids.. Poverty gone from the face of the world..
Once I did ask a question to a tribal chief; Why in Africa the parents have an average of 10 kids, when they can’t afford to feed them, cloth them or even give them the basic necessities?
He’s answer was a simple one, In Africa people die from starvation, diseases, war and negligence, If one child survives, then the blood line continues, this is Africa and the world cannot fix it for know, greed and selfishness rules the land. Until Africans collectively work together to help themselves, then all this calamities will stop. Be thankful for what you have.
Welcome back Zeitgiest. I guess the Adolf Hitler username didn't work out."Not one person is able the understand what is going here and grasp why we have come to this." Does that include you; or do you actually have a workable solution to this problem?
"I you know anything about the history of africa... the different tribes of the continent were killing each other way before any europeans arrived.."XENA - the apologist for colonial rule
Good thing w have you to enlighten all of us dummies then :) (rofl)
you guys are truly unbelievable. Not one person is able the understand what is going here and grasp why we have come to this. This from Care International-:“The situation in Ethiopia is not only due to the current drought but a combination of additional factors including dwindling natural resources and agricultural productivity due to the effects of climate change.... For millions of people, there just isn’t food available, but in many cases even food is for sale on local markets, the price is so exorbitant that poor people simply can’t afford to pay”. No one seems to be able to join the dots to the devastating effects of climate change where the severity of droughts, storms and floods are multiplied as forecast by climatologists, from which the poorest nation on earth will suffer most. Food prices are up??? Why are they up? Are people really that dumbed down to be unaware of the role speculators have when food as a commodity is gambled on and the market plays "God" in determining who will live and who will die. Or the fact that In Ethiopia, as in most African countries, agriculture has been seriously set back over the last three decades by IMF-World Bank free-market policies as well as by the influx of subsidised US and European Union food production after local markets have been forced open by the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Agriculture. At the time of decolonisation in the 1960s, Africa was not just self-sufficient in food but was actually a net food exporter. Today the continent imports 25 percent of its food, with almost every country being a net food importer. Think about that. And finally we come to so called the "lack of stability argument. Neighbouring Somalia has also been hit by drought, but here the situation is made seriously worse by the invasion of US-backed Ethiopian troops coming to the rescue of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). For the last year and a half, they have attempted to drive out the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) that ruled the capital Mogadishu and large parts of Somalia during 2006. The ICU drove out the warlords that preyed on the civilian population, many of whom are allied to the TFG. Washington, which claimed that the ICU contained Al Qaeda members, has justified the invasion and subsequent atrocities on the grounds of pursuing the “war on terror.”The UN has warned that the number of people needing emergency food relief in Somalia is likely to increase by nearly a third to 3.5 million in the next three months. Thanks Europe, UK and USA!! Where are your critical thinking skills people!!!
'The "aid" cycle never ends. The solution should be sustainability ?That's a bit "rich" from you considering amount of money being payed back to the West in debt exceeds aid amounts. Cancel the f******g debt.
Aside from immoral religious teachings, the reason why they have large families is extreme poverty. The fact that a pension plans does not exist in these back waters coupled with significantly high mortality rates feeds the need for large families. Who will look after the mother and father when they are elderly, if the get there??? The govt?? You???Empower the female through education, cancel the debt, abolish neoliberial imperialism, take real action on global warming and support local industry is the way to go
It's just a name. Let him have it. All's fair in love and trolling after all.
Nothing will change there, no matter how much money is pumped in unless the people themselves change.As simple as that.
If you know anything about the history of africa... the different tribes of the continent were killing each other way before any europeans arrived...
Cannot blame that one on the west... nice try though!!!
BTW... as an African, I can go into this much more indepth - There is so much more to the african culture that you just don't know about....
Mods must not have picked that yet up or the racist tagline. But then Hitler was crazy. He'll disappear soon enough and go back to being Zeitgiest--unless that has been deleted already too.
Was wondering that myself and why has he been allowed that name and profile?
Since when was Hitler anti-imperialism?
Hey look it's Rizzo. LOL.
If they had given the africans birth control injections or implants in 1985 when we all gave so much to Live Aid then now over 20 years on there woudnt be the starvation, and hungry babies with flies in their eyes. I note being hungry doesnt stop them reproducing. I refuse to give to any african charities now because either they dont get the aid promised or it goes into the pocket of their rulers. Harsh but true. Remember when the Tsunami hit thailand and other parts of asia, they didnt sit on their backsides with their hands out, they were clearing up and getting on with re building their lives. Not so with africa, they sit with their hands out waiting for someone to help them. AFRICA - get up of your @rses and work.
they are against the CIVILIANS. Actually, they are masaccrering CIVILIANS! When they are gone, then the next solution as suggested above!
It is not nice to discriminate people on the basis of their religion or their color. Ultimately we all are human being. It is the responsibility of each and everyone, who are having all the previlages in their life. Nobody asking you to pay Thousands or Millions. It is just a matter of 1, 10 or 20 riyals. Remember few drops can make a flood. We can not blame the natural disasters, its all in the hands of God. But still the Government and political leaders can play a big roll to reduce the effects of this. Instead of trying to do that all those stupids are fighting to concrete their own chair. Lets pray for that poor people...
How does blaming Europe solve the problem?
As parents we never want to live to bury our children and yet out their its quite the norm though never less painful. The saddest thing is this has been happening for so so long. I memo as a kid when I was to whine about my lunch my aunt would remind me of my blessings by saying "think of the kids in Ithiopia" and that was years ago! To think since then and now with all the advancements around much of the globe , these lands are yet in peril and tribulations as they were years back. Yes something needs to be done,we all agree but what? Their situation is bleak and it apears that the only way the people can be saved is by being taken in as refugees by better off lands,Allahu alam.
Unfortunately that does not include all the starving women and children.
That what I said, frenchieman. Some people in Somalia like it as it is!!
LP--maybe you should lead the team there and so how long it takes for before you meet some "real" pirates. Plants like that require a reasonable amount of stability. Even if they ever became operational (highly unlikely) local warlords would cut pipes and dam irrigations systems in order to keep control.
Perhaps its time for us to start a new venture in the Horn of Africa :o)
Pilgram: Good Read ...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/8616965/East-Africa-drought-Africa-must-do-more-to-help-itself.html
... and the energy comes from the sun. They could live happily forever. (Another 5 billion years, or so)
brit, Somalia has a long coastline. Give them three or four seawater desalination plants and the problem is solved. Qatar uses the same method!
That has nothing to do with long term sustainability Brit, every country has dry seasons, this has to do with lack of foresight by the government to prepare for dry seasons.
As per the U.N - "Two consecutive poor rainy seasons have resulted in one of the driest years since 1950/51 in many pastoral zones,"
Food prices have risen substantially in the region, pushing many moderately poor households over the edge.
I agree though that fighting also has a major impact..
It is more lucrative to sell weapons. They are used up immediately. And business flows. Build a solar power plant and you run out of business!
Right, Pilgram. Even coffee is grown in Kenya. In Africa everything can grow. The sun gives electric energy, and with that one can do anything.
Kenya can't produce crops? Kenya is one of the lushest places I've ever been!
Science enables people to grow crops anywhere, even on Mars. But it will cost. However, if you give money to Somalia, they buy weapons, not seeds, not water plants, and not solar cells to produce electricity.
As I said - i don't think Aid is the solution - Its too short term...
Perhaps the only answer is to move these people to more habitable areas..
My bad.. I meant Kenya :O)
brit, Somalia hasn't had a functioning government since 20 years! That's a very 'stable' situation, indeed!
The old "teach a man to fish" right Brit. The question is, if the land is useless, where do you send the people? Who will take in millions of starving people? You're liable to create another Israel/Palestine.
There are people in Somalia who like it as it is! Actually, the people are the ones who must change it. Even if it will cost a few thousand lives. What is needed is an overthrow of all corrupt and dictatorial systems. We need 'Human Revolutions'. And we must make sure that the new governments will not be able to amass wealth which is the people's property. I think in 500 years we might get there.
Ethiopia and Somalia have been stable for the past few years.
This is more to do with the land being arid and unable to produce crops to sustain the poulation.
The "aid" cycle never ends. The solution should be sustainability ?
Agree with Frenchieman. The issue isn't the amount of aid, it's getting the aid to the people.
Even if you donate money, it never gets to the people who need it!
The problem is not lack of donations from other countries. As any NGO operating there will tell you, the issue is distribution. These are generally fertile countries that should be able to feed themselves, but they are torn apart by war and corruption. Food rots on the docks as one faction tries to starve out the other; roads are blockaded; farmers killed in their fields; crops burnt before they can be harvested.The longterm solution in political stability.
Mubarak is said to have hoarded about US $ 80 billion. Let's take his money and the jewelry of his wife. Just a proposal.
What about a new way of approaching the issue. I recall a few years ago a scientist suggested that since the land is so barren, the best option is "enforced migrtion" to better areas..
At the time , his ideas were poo-pooed :O(
Countries can certainly help them.. Somalia is Muslim country but Ethiopia is not I believe.. Kenya not sure..
Rich people dont have time to help, they are busy in making more money and finding ways to get more richer....:(
What about 'rich Muslim' countries helping?
Rich countries must help these people but because they are Muslims they will not help.
They also need to be supplied with free condoms and lessons in birth control.. Not the children of course but the parents..