Did you know that as we sit down and eat our three meals a day there is a Food Crisis going on in Eastern Africa? They are currently experiencing the harshest drought they have had in recent decades.
In Kenya alone 3.5 million people are in desperate need of food. A thought provoking perspective easily shown is; the population for a state in the United States, Connecticut is 3.5 million people. Can you imagine if the population of Connecticut was being swept out by a famine? What would the US do for them? But there’s more, in all 13 million people are affected by this terrible drought. The three areas where the drought is most prominent is Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. My heart breaks for the people who are starving literally to death. Could you imagine if you could not fulfill your hunger every time your belly grumbles?
This drought is said to be the worst drought in 60 years. Before this famine was even declared it is believed that tens of thousands of people have died due to starvation. The estimate is that 15% of children are severely malnourished. This means if they do not get food within a couple of days; death could result. The region of Turkana has been hit the hardest by the famine. Their malnutrition levels are exceeding 37%.
I want to ask the question why we have heard nothing about this in the news and why it is not being broadcasted as much as it should be. It’s sickening to think that 1/3 of the American population is obese, while this nation is starving. I think as a nation we need to OPEN OUR EYES to what is going on around the world and stop overfilling our needs and to help others.
To help with relief efforts you can go onto the website http://worldrelief.org/ and donate money.
Kelly, I am in the same boat as you when it comes to issues like this. Whenever I am out to eat, I always take home left overs, because I do not want to take what we have for granted. Also, I used to go to the website freerice.com. If you have never heard of it, you can check it out. It is a pretty cool program. Pretty much you answer vocab questions, and for every answer you get correct, they send 10 grains of rice to places like this to end hunger. Plus it is free, and really easy and not too time consuming.
ReplyDeleteI love the topic you choose on starvation in africa. i feel as if you are very certain on trying to spread awarness about the eastern africa food crisis which i think everyone in america should no about so that we can take action and help. you gave alot of details to support your motivation of sharing this topic. the pictures kept me intrested and it gave me a vivid image of whats really going on in afrca
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