Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
The skeletal acacia trees that surround Magado village, a tiny isolated community in Southern Ethiopia, are testimony in more ways than one to the drought that has destroyed the lives of its inhabitants. The bare branches and parched earth are evidence of the six months of rainless heat that has wiped out 70 per cent of the livestock owned by the 11 million nomadic pastoralists spread across the Horn of Africa in the worst drought for a decade.
Humanitarian aid to Africa has grown almost six-fold in the past eight years from $946m (£556m) to $5.6bn (£3.3bn). Magado's share of this windfall came too late.
No one in Magado has died from starvation. In March, long after the cattle were beyond salvation, emergency food aid arrived which kept the pastoralists alive. By the time the October rains arrived, however, the inhabitants of Magado had cut down five men who had hung themselves in acacia trees. They had killed themselves because of the shame and despair of watching their cattle dwindle and perish before their eyes.
The village is grim proof of an international community failing to provide help when it is needed most. Across the Borena lands, it is estimated that 150,000 cows have died, two thirds of the entire stock.
Left: A young boy with what remains of his herd.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
A cattle herder with his son and the remains of their herd. A severe drought is having a devastating impact on the liveihoods of thousands of pastoralists, dependent on rainfall and grazing, up in North Eastern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
Galamo Dima, 45, a village elder shows the beans that she now sells to survive. Five men in her community committed suicide as a result of losing all their animals. Help was slow to come and now, through the help of Care International and the Women’s cooperative pastoralists have established income generating schemes to help them restock, as well as save money for when there is another drought.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
Galamo Dima, with her son and daughter in their families hut. Five men in her community committed suicide as a result of losing all their animals. Help was slow to come and now, through the help of Care International and the Women’s cooperative pastoralists have established income generating schemes to help them restock, as well as save money for when there is another drought.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
In Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya, the severe drought has led to increased pressure on grazing land and many animals have died. Men are now arming themselves to protect what remains of their herds, and cross border cattle rustling is an increasingly common occurence.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
A cattle herder at a bore hole. A severe drought is having a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of pastoralists, dependent on rainfall and grazing, throughout North Eastern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
A father with his family shows what remains of their food ration for the month. Formerly a pastoralist, he has lost his entire herd of cows and sheep as a result of the devastating drought that has swept through Northern Kenya and Ethiopia.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
A woman and her daughter in a hut in which they are now living with eight other members of their family. Formerly nomadic pastoralists, they have lost all of their herd since a devastating drought swept through northern Kenya and they are now dependent on food aid.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
A group of armed men stand guard over what remains of their herd of cattle in a small village in Southern Ethiopia. A devastating drought throughout the region has resulted in a severe shortage of grazing land and water and many pastoralists have lost their animals, which has led to an increase in cross border cattle rustling.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
As a result of a severe drought in Southern Ethiopia, women have to walk many miles to collect water.
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Ethiopia and Kenya, Drought In Africa; A Bitter Harvest
October 2006
A cattle herder with the remains of his herd, walks towards a drinking hole, surrounded by carcasses of dead cattle. A severe drought is having a devastating impact on the livelihoods of thousands of pastoralists, dependent on rainfall and grazing throughout North Eastern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia.
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