The Famine in Ethiopia

Gary and I had a talk with our new case worker recently, who we both liked very much! She was able to get us more up to date with why so many of us 'soon to be parents' are experiencing a delay. Apparently with the terrible famine taking place in Ethiopia right now the orphanages are packed full, and so all the babies who were placed in orphanages have already been adopted and now the orphanages are mostly full of older children and sibling groups. The need is so overwhelming that my heart breaks when I think of all the suffering! The famine has been especially devastating for the children. Lack of food and water is fatal much sooner in growing little ones than in an adult. Also the long term effects of hunger can cause any number of diseases and stunt mind and growth development permanently in children. I read in the BBC news that this famine is predicted to be a far greater tragedy than the one that took place in Ethiopia in 1984, which caused the deaths of almost 1 million people. Approximately 6 million people are at immediate risk, and without significant aid soon it is estimated that 15 million will be facing starvation at the turn of the year. This is almost inconceivable in our country where we scrape leftover food into the trash every day. I cannot imagine real hunger or thirst. I cannot imagine having to helplessly watch my children starve! This horror really hits home for me when I think of my Ethiopian baby girl over there hungry, maybe sick, while I live in such abundance! If I could do anything to make her life better, easier, to soothe one night of crying, I would. I will be searching to find some ways to physically help in this crisis and will post what I find.