Thread 1/10
I have just returned from Afar in eastern Ethiopia, a part of S&E Ethiopia, Somalia & N Kenya that has been decimated by climate change driven drought.
I am finding it hard to process what I witnessed or the magnitude and speed at which this tragedy is unfolding.
I have just returned from Afar in eastern Ethiopia, a part of S&E Ethiopia, Somalia & N Kenya that has been decimated by climate change driven drought.
I am finding it hard to process what I witnessed or the magnitude and speed at which this tragedy is unfolding.
2/10
We drove for two hours along a “dirt track” to reach an isolated community - but even that description is overly positive - if that was a “track” then my local country lane is a motorway.
There is nothing -no buildings, no communications.
The riverbed is dry.
We drove for two hours along a “dirt track” to reach an isolated community - but even that description is overly positive - if that was a “track” then my local country lane is a motorway.
There is nothing -no buildings, no communications.
The riverbed is dry.
3/10
Before the drought this land was teeming with cattle, goats, camels etc. Pastoralists relied on their animals for food & income. Now the land is brown & most of the animals have died.
All they have is a weekly visit from a mobile health unit held under the only large tree
Before the drought this land was teeming with cattle, goats, camels etc. Pastoralists relied on their animals for food & income. Now the land is brown & most of the animals have died.
All they have is a weekly visit from a mobile health unit held under the only large tree
4/10
@UNICEF funded by #UKAID give sachets to mothers of malnourished children. Nearly every child needed sachets.
The tiny one-a-day treatments of fortified peanut paste can be life savers. But only if there are not other complications - many also had coughs, prob pneumonia.
@UNICEF funded by #UKAID give sachets to mothers of malnourished children. Nearly every child needed sachets.
The tiny one-a-day treatments of fortified peanut paste can be life savers. But only if there are not other complications - many also had coughs, prob pneumonia.
5/10 Mothers told me they know the life of pastoralists is no longer possible. They want to find new livelihoods & new ways of living.
Afar has possibilities for new opportunities, but this needs long term investment - very challenging with war raging next door in Tigray.
Afar has possibilities for new opportunities, but this needs long term investment - very challenging with war raging next door in Tigray.
6/10 To unlock opportunities education is needed, but one in four children in Afar drop out of school before end of year one. That’s of the children that even start school.
At a school near the main road I met kids desperate to learn…
At a school near the main road I met kids desperate to learn…
7/10
.. but conflict and climate change means that many children become displaced when families are forced to move on. #UKAid has been helping @UNICEF with accelerated learning for those who have missed out. This clever solar radio can also be used to deliver tailored lessons.
.. but conflict and climate change means that many children become displaced when families are forced to move on. #UKAid has been helping @UNICEF with accelerated learning for those who have missed out. This clever solar radio can also be used to deliver tailored lessons.
8/10
24 million people are affected by drought in Ethiopia - three times more than 6 months ago. The acceleration of the crisis was brought home when I visited the only hospital.
Many health facilities were destroyed when the conflict tipped into this region last year …
24 million people are affected by drought in Ethiopia - three times more than 6 months ago. The acceleration of the crisis was brought home when I visited the only hospital.
Many health facilities were destroyed when the conflict tipped into this region last year …
9/10
Last year the hospital used just 6 paediatric beds.
@MSF have just erected a tented extension to the hospital with 100 intensive beds for malnourished children. It’s nearly full already.
#UKAid has provided a much needed ambulance to @WHO for this hospital.
Last year the hospital used just 6 paediatric beds.
@MSF have just erected a tented extension to the hospital with 100 intensive beds for malnourished children. It’s nearly full already.
#UKAid has provided a much needed ambulance to @WHO for this hospital.
10/10 In this drought, millions of people are hanging on to life by the finest of threads. One more shock & many will die.
This year the UK will provide £156m of humanitarian aid to E Africa & more in development aid - but MUCH more is needed.
Other countries need to step up.
This year the UK will provide £156m of humanitarian aid to E Africa & more in development aid - but MUCH more is needed.
Other countries need to step up.
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