Update from Ethiopia

Life is hard in the desserts of Ethiopia at the best of times. Yesterday we visited a nomadic village that is home to eight families, who move around every two weeks so that their herd of goats can get access to the limited amount of greenery that is available.

This family walks six miles each way over stony ground to collect water every day, and are currently  surviving on just one meal a day and tea in the mornings. Several of the children looked to be severely malnourished.

They are some of the beneficiaries of a new nutrition programme Samaritan's Purse is starting in the region in response to the recently failed rains and the increasing concern over the onset of a severe drought and famine. This programme will feed around 5,000 families with PlumpyNut for the children and a Corn/Soy blend mixture and oil for the families.

Life here is fragile and at the moment children are living on the edge. As I stand here, it is difficult for me to comprehend the sheer effort involved in just pure survival. We urgently need people to pray and to respond to help reach more children.

Simon Barrington
Executive Director, Samaritan's Purse UK