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I’m not an aid worker and I don’t have the kinds of talents that are useful on the ground in a situation like this. But I am a storyteller and I do have a platform and a following and I want to use that to do whatever I can to help.
I feel like the world has been distracted by other stories and is not paying attention, and a tragedy is unfolding that is entirely avoidable.
Large areas of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, collectively known as the Horn of Africa, have been suffering the worst drought in living memory, with millions of people driven to the brink of famine. Thousands have already died of malnutrition and hunger-related diseases, with limited international attention and life-saving aid slow to arrive.
Over the course of a week, I traveled with @ConcernWorldwideus through the remote and arid landscape of Marsabit County, meeting those worst affected by the drought. On a mission to bring this story to as many people as possible, we emerged with a series of images and heartbreaking stories to share with the world, including:
Yes, there is war in Ukraine and political turmoil at home in the U.S. and so many other issues vying for our attention - but this is a story of human tragedy that we can help turn around. Hundreds of thousands of children could die if we don’t.”
The UN estimates that over 20 million people are “waking each day to high levels of food insecurity and rising malnutrition” in the Horn of Africa. Concern Worldwide is responding to this crisis by supporting mobile and clinic-based nutrition services and through the provision emergency cash transfers to affected communities. Concern Worldwide teams are also repairing broken boreholes and shallow wells and vaccinating livestock against diseases.
“In some areas, it hasn’t rained properly since 2019 - and these people are entirely dependent on rainfall for their food and income. Amina from Concern told me that this is potentially worse than the famine that killed over 250,000 people in 2011. Most of them were children and, as a dad, I just cannot conceive of the idea that a child could starve to death in our world today.