Ethiopia faces famine again

Hard to believe that it was almost a quarter of a century that the Live Aid concert took place with many of the worlds pop starts. It was 1985 and many of us were enthusiastic about the large amount of money it was raised (approx. $283.6 million) for famine relief in Ethiopia. Now we are facing the same threat. Millions of impoverished Ethiopians face malnutrition and possibly starvation. It could turn out to be Ethiopia’s worst food crisis for decades. And yet, putting aside the warning signals the country’s government say there is not danger of famine this year. They insist they are addressing the problem. Politics once more are playing havoc with people’s lives. To declare a famine is a political decision that while it can arouse public opinion worldwide and bring millions in aid programs, it can also be seen as a failure for the politicians of the country in need. And yet the main difference between a food crisis and a famine depends in whether enough aid arrives to keep alive those who are starving. So is it right to blame the Ethiopian politicians or is that just an easy way out for most of us in the First World countries?