Childhood Hunger

Bill Shore’s Letters

Return to Ethiopia

February 2001

Dear Friend,

"A cloud gathers, the rain falls, men live; the cloud disperses without rain, and men and animals die." -- Wilfred Thesiger, British Explorer

British explorer Wilfred Thesiger wrote these simple words about the African desert almost 40 years ago. Today they still explain why Ethiopia needs our help and why Share Our Strength will soon return there with one of the most diverse and distinguished delegations ever to make the trip.

As you'll recall, when we were among the first to travel to east Africa last May, 8 million Ethiopians were at risk of famine due to drought, and a border war with Eritrea which hindered relief efforts. But we persevered and UNICEF has reported that "Thanks to a major effort by UN agencies, nonprofits, and government, and above all, with the strong support of the donor community, the effects of the drought were to a great part mitigated." When we arrive there next week, Ethiopia will have completed the withdrawal of troops from Eritrea under the terms of a signed peace agreement.

As much as we've accomplished, as much good as we've done, it's not good enough. Children under the age of five have a staggering mortality rate of 175 per 1000 live births. Mothers have a mortality rate of 1400 per 100,000 live births. The country has one of the highest levels of stunting among children due to under-nutrition, 64%. Diarrheal diseases account for 46% of child deaths in Ethiopia, and over 2 million cases of malaria are reported per year (Don't worry, we've received a new round of shots and pills.) Ethiopia ranks 171 out of 174 nations in the United Nations human development index.

Our purpose in returning to Ethiopia is twofold: to learn and to lead.

We want to deepen our understanding of the most effective relief and development efforts we should be funding. And we want to lead others to the conclusion we've reached, which is that although Ethiopia may always remain vulnerable to its harsh climate, it need not be vulnerable to famine. To that end, unlike the last trip which Chuck Scofield and I made alone, this time we will be traveling with an extraordinary delegation of 14 that includes representatives from some of the U.S.'s largest foundations, the national columnist from one of the major news-weeklies, former Senator Harris Wofford who was the first Peace Corps Director for Ethiopia in 1962, as well as Share Our Strength corporate partners and board members. We are committed to building a long-term constituency of support for the kind of development efforts that will save the lives of Africa's children.

I'll close as I began, with the words of explorer Thesiger, who explained: "In the deserts of southern Arabia there is not rhythm of the seasons, no rise and fall of sap, but empty wastes where only the changing temperature marks the passage of the year.... Men live there because it is the world into which they were born; the life they lead is the life their forefathers lead before them.... No man can live this life and emerge unscathed."

However we emerge, I hope I may share with you the results of this journey, to let you know of the impact we're having and how you can help.

Even as a handful of us are halfway around the globe, thousands of our Share Our Strength colleagues will also be working to support foodbanks, children's hospitals, and advocacy efforts to eliminate hunger here at home, as well as in Mexico, Central America, Asia and others parts of Africa where we work. We have grown to a point where the sun never sets on Share Our Strength's humanitarian efforts. But the warmth of its rays is really the warmth of your heart and spirit, of the generosity and friendship that sustain us on this and every journey.

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