U.N.: 11 million in Africa may starve
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) --
Monday, February 20, 2006; Posted: 12:43 p.m. EST (17:43 GMT)

As many as 11 million people are threatened with starvation across east Africa because of a combination of drought and conflict, a U.N. special investigator warned on Monday.

Urging donor countries to come immediately to their aid, Jean Ziegler, U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, said that pre-famine conditions were increasingly being reported throughout the region.

"Severe droughts coupled with the effects of past and present conflicts have led to acute shortages of water and food," he said in a statement.

"Approximately 11 million people are currently threatened by starvation in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania," he added.

Read the rest here. (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/02/20/africa.starve.reut/index.html)

Thoughts?

I think these people deserved just as much attention as the people in Iraq did, if not more. I mean, if the new reason for going into Iraq is because we needed to "free" the Iraqis from Saddam, well I'd say the people in Africa need to be freed from these issues in a far more urgent way...

It is sad and unecessary for that many people in Africa to starve. The food to feed them is already here. The problem is that there is no way to get the food to the people where it is needed. Corrupt governments coupled with internecine wars make delivery of food to the starving almost impossible.

Overdose,

I agree with you 100%. A coalition of nations needs to get into Africa and have an ass-kicking fest all over every single god-damned one of those tin horn tyrants and corrupt bosses that stand between the African people and a better way of life, dammit.

we already tried to help them, they didnt want it. Sam Kinison had some good advice for them, "move to where the food is! you see this, this is sand, you cant eat sand. You see those mountains over there, they are green. If you want to help the africans, dont send them food, send em luggage'

Don't send 'em luggage, what the hell would they put in it?

Originally posted by es347fan
Don't send 'em luggage, what the hell would they put in it?

A handful of grits and a Kalashnikov

Originally posted by Frogger
It is sad and unecessary for that many people in Africa to starve. The food to feed them is already here. The problem is that there is no way to get the food to the people where it is needed. Corrupt governments coupled with internecine wars make delivery of food to the starving almost impossible.

I totally agree. I would add that in many cases, starvation is a direct result or even a strategy in wars. And that in many cases these wars are fueled by western money - adrican resources ultimately are pillaged by rich country, with the help of a small number of african tyrants and criminal, and with the benediction of western govts and corporations.

Hey.. Bono's been preachin about savin' Africa for years... i guess he was right.