15 August 2011: Our dear Horn of Africa

Our hearts continue to break for the crisis going on in Ethiopia and the surrounding countries. I am keeping a very close eye on what’s going on and praying fervently. Eastern Africa is being hit with the worst drought in 60 years and millions upon millions of people are in a very dangerous situation.

“Severe drought, poor infrastructure and insecurity have had a debilitating impact on the welfare of millions of people in this region, especially in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. This crisis has resulted in severe malnutrition, acute hunger, and rising levels of starvation. It has generated extraordinary refugee flows across thousands of miles in East Africa.

The current crisis in the Horn has long-term and short-term implications. It threatens the lives of those at risk, especially young children and women. And it also endangers the hard-won development gains and the future prospects of millions of people throughout East Africa and the Horn. Today, over 11 million people are in need of emergency assistance in the Horn of Africa. In Kenya, an estimated 3.6 million people have been affected. This includes refugees, rural pastoralists, and urban poor who are unable to buy adequate food because of escalating prices.

In Ethiopia, at least 4.5 million people are in need of assistance. Almost 3 million people need assistance in Somalia. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees already in Kenya and in Ethiopia, new arrivals are coming in at staggering daily rates.”

- Johnnie Carson
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affair

Please stand with me in prayer and fasting over the next 3 days for the following:

• Rain
• Increase in provisions including food, water, medical supplies etc.
• Increase in aid workers
• Comfort for those who mourn and feel forsaken
• That those on the brink of survival will be reached by aid
• Strength and capability of aid workers as they work around the clock to ease the immense suffering
• A spirit of urgency and unity within the international community so that enough money will be committed and delivered
• Wisdom and a servant approach amongst political leaders of the countries affected
• For investment and continued work in agriculture in East Africa which is needed to reduce long terms vulnerability
• Hope for those who are powerless and helpless