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Why is the West still feeding Ethiopia?

10/25/09

Permalink 11:12:07 pm, by nazret.com, 440 words, 2712 views   English (US)
Categories: Ethiopia, Emergency, Food Shortage

Why is the West still feeding Ethiopia?

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Why is the West still feeding Ethiopia?

By Barry Malone

Reuters Blog

25 years since more than 1 million Ethiopians died as those of us lucky enough to live in the rich world sat transfixed in front of our television screens. The horrible suffering brought with it the biggest outpouring of charity ever seen as governments and ordinary people dug deep to stop it.

But a quarter of a century on foreigners are still feeding a huge number of Ethiopians. The Ethiopian government says poor rains mean 6.2 million of its people need food aid this year and has asked the international community to provide it.

Another 7 million hungry people are on a government-run but foreign-funded scheme that gives food in exchange for work, which means more than 13 million of the country’s 83 million people rely on foreign handouts to survive.

Aid agency Oxfam is now saying that food aid is trapping Ethiopia in a cycle of dependence on the West and that donations could be better spent.

In the valleys of northern Ethiopia much has changed since 1984 when hundreds of thousands of dying people streamed down from the hills desperate for food.

Chinese engineers in huge trucks hurtle down newly built roads financed by their government and children now flow from the hills on the way to school.

Ethiopians say they are sick of their image as a people beset by famine and war and point to foreign investors showing growing interest in their country.

This week I travelled to a small village called Abay where Oxfam and Ethiopian NGO Orda are trying to help the locals become independent of food aid so that, when a drought hits, they will be able to survive without charity.

Men worked fields rich with wheat, young boys threshed barley for a local brewery and women had set up self-help groups and were giving out loans so their members could buy the five sheep necessary to start a breeding business.

The area looked prosperous and the people said they felt more pride now.

A growing number of aid experts — many of them African — say that if more money was spent on schemes like this, rather than on food, then Ethiopians and other Africans dependent on food aid could eventually wean themselves off it.

“I am 100 percent confident that day will come,” one farmer told me, standing in his impressive field of wheat. “Begging is a shameful practice for Ethiopia.”

So is food aid making Africans dependent? Is it time donor countries cut back on it? Should more money be spent on helping people become self-sufficient? Could foreign direct investment improve things? Or is there another answer?

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msg Comment from: solomon [Visitor]
cutting aid doesnt help anything, but smart aid does. That is what the western countries are doing these days. They give their money and ask for numbers. They make sure that their money is going to solve some problems.
We have to do more on our part. I am sure sitting in a government is not as easy as it seems these days. You have to show numbers. Thats what the next government should know and make sure smart hardworking people are in the right places, and there is no corruption. And no tultula like fake scholar Al.
Population also has to be controlled because once the world observes that issue, there will be a china style reproduction law:crazy:. We could fix our problem before that happens. Simply DONT MULTIPLY BY 10.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 00:11

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msg Comment from: omo [Visitor]
The year is 2050. Ethiopia and Eritrea are free from the two dictators IA and MZ. Both dictators have been thrown into the dustbin of history and they are very rarely remembered, only on the “day of never again”, the “day of the unhappy past”. Famine, tribalism and Lfs are now history.

Ethiopia has become an oil producing country, rich in minerals and millions of hectares of her farmlands are irrigated by its many rivers. Ethiopians are emigrating in droves, this time, from foreign lands to the promised land of Ethiopia, the land of river Ghion and Prester John, the land of harmonious people and equal religions and heavenly peace, where dictators, traitors and kleptokrats no longer rule the land.

By the miracle of God, Ethiopians are reformed in to a united, peaceful and democratic people, who respect each other and live in harmony. By some sort of mutation, Amharas and Tigres have lost their bad gene, the gene of superiority complex. Also, Oromos have lost the gene that makes them allergic to other ethnic groups. Ethiopia is no longer called the land of famine but on the contrary, it is now known as the land of plenty.

Her rulers are both politicians and religious men and women, people who respect the constitution, the law of the land and more importantly, they respect much more their citizens. At the first complaint of their subjects, the rulers are ready to resign and ask for forgiveness. They use their power, given to them by the constitution, to rule with justice and they never rule for the sake of power.

Is this the land of Ethiopia or the land of Utopia?

Do not misunderstand me, because I am not only a dreamer, unfortunately, I am also aware of the painful reality. I am not talking of the present generation, but of another Ethiopian generation to come, a generation immune to tribalism, hate, envy, greed, corruption, crimes etc., people who by the miracle of God are endowed with democracy, a sense of equality and respect for the law.

As the scriptures say, unless we Ethiopians are reborn again, free of our defective genes, there is no future for our land and our people. The previous and the present generations screwed everything Ethiopian that we inherited from our ancestors. It is up to the coming generations to save or to bury the sick patient called Ethiopia. The same goes for Eritrea, too.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 00:53

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msg Comment from: Dani A'dios [Visitor]
As long as the "Lords of Poverty" don't change thier policy and make a profit for themselves out of human suffering, the cycle will continue.

The famine is man made. Only Bale or Gojam can feed the rest of Ethiopia if resources properly utilized. Despite the country's rugged terrain in the north, most of Ethiopia's land is arable. We need good governance a lasting development aid not a food handout now and then.

selam to all
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 02:23

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msg Comment from: YD [Visitor]
The best way for the west to save their money and death of humanbeing is to see to the root cause of all messes. They need to know that the very existance of ethiopia by itself is the root cause of these humanitrain crisis, Let ethiopia be disintegrated into different country and every region compet for its own growth instead of sleeping on others, let sense of citizenship and responsibiltiy develop without imposition by those fool habashes who do not now how to rule but beg everytime (from 19th C Italy to 21C China or west) for their mere existance and to kill others with their brutal way of thinking by the money they got under pre-text of sister religion. Let aid money is striped off bloody despot regime etc. there are so many ways to save your money and death of innocent civilians.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 05:45

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msg Comment from: DT [Visitor]
The answer is to change government policy on land and agriculture. The government seems to be addicted to begging and apparently Ethiopian PM has been promoted to being a beggar to Africa (Remember he attends G8, G20 meetings?); his CV is rich in begging that is why he became Africa's top beggar :(
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 06:53

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msg Comment from: addis zemen [Visitor]
The modell small village ABAY can be taken as a sample,why becoming self sufficient is important in people's lives,nobody wants to be dependant on others.ofcourse more money must be invested,and modernizing the farming system is more important not to go back to the same routine.this is so far some of the steps being taken by the govt in so many parts of the country.including seeking outside investors who are willing to take the task.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 08:55

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msg Comment from: somali_solja [Visitor]
ALL AFRICANS ALL THEY NEED IS USING THIER OWN GOD GIVEN BRAIN TO SORT THIER PROBLEMS AND HUNGER....WHITE PEOPLE R STILL USING AND LOOTING US IN A TERM OF SO CALLED GIVING AID... THEY STAY IN EXPENSIVE HOTELS IN NAIROBI AND THEY TAKE LOTS OF MANEY FROM THE NAME OF AFRICAN AIDERS......WESTREN COUNTRIES ARE THE ENEMIES OF INNOCENT AFRICANS... COZ WESTREN COUNTRIES ARE THE ONES WHO SUPPORT THE AFRICAN DICTATERS..... WE HAVE TO UNDRESTAND WHERE THE CANCERS CELLS ARE COMMING FROM...... THX NEZERETH..
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 09:12

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msg Comment from: TEDDY [Visitor]
=>The main question is not whether Western Countries give or not food assistance ,but doest the Help really arrives to the victims .Like the late derg junta regime TPLF is also using food as an arm of pressure .By harassing NGOs and International Organisations representation .Beyond the natural desastors the TPLF regime itself is the main threat for the country and its peoples .
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 09:13

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msg Comment from: Seb Haki [Visitor]
African nations: Please follow Issayas's principle. No food Aid for Africa.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 09:40

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msg Comment from: mored [Visitor]
YES YES and YES, foreign direct investment is the answer not hand outs. And the other most important thing is removing this short ugly dictator and his goons. Good government is necessary for growth. Remove woyane.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 09:46

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msg Comment from: Shegaw - Yayew Hulu Yidenekal [Visitor]
The West should learn about this simple fact - Give a fish to a person and you will feed him/her for that day but teach a person how to fish and you will feed him/her for eternity.

With all the billions spent on food aid which usually goes to line the pockets of those in charge and also misuse the purpose of the aid itself

The West should realize it is much better if they send modern agriculture equipments and train the local how to yield a much bigger harvest than sending those flour and cooking oil.

Those in charge of distributing those flour and cooking oil are so corrupt and greedy that they sell those aid products in various market in the country. How many time we have witnessed those cooking oil and floor being barter in small town and villages. Even the recipients of these Aid in Somali region where the majority are nomadic people - Do you really think these nomads will sit down and cook a meal for themselves?? LOL they received these aid and turn around and sell it to those "delalas" who will sell it for high profit in various market inside the country.

Those Western countries should send tractors, fertilizer and whatever it takes to revitalize our agriculture system and train the local people. - If they have done this some 25 years ago, Ethiopia would have been self sufficient by now.

But who is profiting from all these aid money - Delalas and government officials who are in charge of distributing these aid products.
And if the Aid is in form of currency - Then Arrivedeci Roma - the money goes directly to private bank accounts in Singapore and Dubai

Also the West should let the Ethiopian people to grow and sustain themselves instead of feeding them forever. Ethiopians should learn to be selfsufficient and get out of this mode of selfpity and begger mode. We have the same intelligence like the rest of the world and why are we in this state of miserable? And who is profiting from all this??
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 10:35

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msg Comment from: belachew [Visitor]
Weyane please follow Eritrean govornment policy
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 11:31

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msg Comment from: Tefera [Visitor]
there is no question that the responsibility of a man to feed himself and his family primarily falls on the man himself so we cant blame the west or what ever, despite that fact ethiopia as a nation has been for genrations buried so deep so much so it becomes hard to blame each and every man for not doing so. now the point is does the west in colaboration with the government realy wants to end that? if they do why is it that they dont provide their financial resource in helping to develope the agriculture as shegaw suggested above rather than spoon feeding our people. in fact the west is doing the opposite. it is indirectly pressuring ethiopia not to use its water resources by blocking loans.
...
Omo
all i can say to your beautiful comment is. Amen.
..
belachew
how did eritrea aquired and consumed the infamous diseased 'sheep of shame'. did it buy them:roll:
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 12:06

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msg Comment from: Sami 1 [Visitor]
No unity that is why we are suffering!
Meles or any other leader could not chage natur, but could unit the people to move freely crops. Not all Ethiopia was hit with drought. Bring all regions together to fight hunger collectively instead of dividing them to help you dectate!

That is why we stile looking at the west to feed millions!

As long us reporters do not report no one knows and no one cares!

Many will get exited with roads, buildings and lights in what ever meanse it is done. It takes longer time for Ethiopians to know millions are starving than the west who has no mdida access know.

PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 12:30

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msg Comment from: patriot [Visitor]
I sometimes think that an economic theory 'let the poor die'' might need to be exercised to pull out the country out of its messes. Donor countries should start rethinking. Lets do the following:
1. Analyze the impact aid had brought since its inception
2. Go back and study the root causes of recurrent famine in that country
3. Device strategies to solve the problems, all from scratch
4. If hand feeding aid need to be stopped to bring a sustainable devt, lets do it. Freedom from famine is not free. sacrifice should be paid to bring a long-lasting and meaningful devt. If we should walk like this at very low pace, there would not be change. Lets learn from the past and move forward in a way that leads us to make hunger history. Above all, the economic policy of the govt should be changed. first the govt should be dismantled to feed the hungry people. we are tired of hearing the bad image about that country. We have enough but we lack a responsible govt. Lets share experience from Israel, and other countries with the same climatic conditions. We should not rely on natural rain year after year. If we have to, lets stop investing in other sectors and put all resources to build irrigation infrastructure. Lets all governmental institutions, NGOs, international agencies work hand in hand with genuine and selfless mission to bring change in that country. Otherwise lets stop the propaganda and leave the people alone. We are strong hard working people but we missed the right body of the government to mobilize us. People from outside think that we have a father [government] but not. Our father is so selfish that he does not know that we are starving.
We are like an orphan with so many people knowing about our problem but no one is genuine to make us prosperous.
Stop bogus pride,
forget history for it did not contribute towards solving problems of our time.
God bless
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 13:01

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msg Comment from: lol [Visitor]
The west is also feeding a brutal dictatorship. If you try to breed foxes and chickens in the same room, the chicken will always suffer. Until the west stops feeding the brutal dictators, Ethiopians will continue to starve. The west funded from Haileselassie's rotten feudalism to Mengistu's murderous rampage to Meles Zenawi's current brutal dictatorship. If you really want to help, support the democratic movement in the country. Most of the aid rice goes to feed the killing squad of the Meles brute forces.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 14:52

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msg Comment from: The Right Way [Visitor]

So is food aid making Africans dependent?

Of course it did. You can’t find a better example than Ethiopia. Not only it makes them dependent but also addicts and corrupts weak governments such as EPRDF.

Is it time donor countries cut back on it?

It is long over due. Evidence shows us that it only prolonged the sufferings and the famine along with the government’s insatiable appetite for power, aggression and suppression.

Should more money be spent on helping people become self-sufficient?

Until and only to give people the first push since their chance and capacity have been ruined to feed and support themselves.

Ethiopians are innovative and cleaver people and God have given them abundant fertile land and resources. Ethiopia only needs a good government.


Could foreign direct investment improve things?

The money should directly go to the people who need it. Free and independent groups from within and aboard should also supervise it.

Or is there another answer?

This is not a rocket science to figure out other than a hate, immorality and disrespect for Ethiopians and human being that is making this tragedy.

How on earth Ethiopia with its rivers, streams of water flowing, green valleys, mountains and beautiful fertile land could be accused of drought and starvation after year when countries in very bad shape who lucks all these resources never hit the starvation chart?

If the starving has stopped in Tigray with its dry and ashy land how on earth the South that has been producing abundant food for centuries and fed Tigray suddenly become dried?

What are all those foreign companies, charities and organizations in Ethiopia has done so for to solve this easy to manage problem? Nothing. Ethiopians are the only one to solve this problem.
So far at the weakness of the Ethiopian government profits are earned and collected by foreign investors including farming and buying lands while Ethiopians are forbidden to do that.

Where did Ethiopia ever bought land in a foreign country? Which country will ever sell 1 square feet of land to Ethiopia? No one.
So why is the Ethiopian government involved in such kind of scheme? I leave this to anyone’s imagination.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 15:22

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msg Comment from: Cay-enne [Visitor]
WHO ask West to feeding US:?:
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 17:46

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msg Comment from: ANTUYA [Visitor]
we still in face of ugly past .is it true stil we have bibleical famine ?
are we the birth place of coffee or famine?
who can save this myestery country?
cheers
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 18:22

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msg Comment from: Afe_Gubae [Visitor]
The West recycles items we Abyssinians are recycling famine and hatred. The power mongers who promissed a decade ago to feed the nation three times per day are incubating millions of hungry souls year after year. Though these immoral and narcissistic leaders failed to feed subjects, yet they disseminate over 10% of GDP growth. These bunch of incompetents inside the Menlik Palace had any sense of accountability would resign from their stolen ballot posts long ago. If they had any conscience two decades later painfully accept that they are good enough in armed struggle not in ruling a nation. Tragically the Arat Kilo warlords awarded another term for master loser wedi Zenawi as if he is indispensable.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 19:47

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msg Comment from: chala [Visitor]
Donate the money and build a Dam on the Blue Nile River...that will serve Ethiopia and Ethiopians better wrather than donate food.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 20:03

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msg Comment from: alemawo(r)k [Visitor]
It seems like once every year, the international community requires Ethiopia to get into the business of begging in front of the global media to broadcast to the world it is getting food aid. But at the same time we don't see any open ceremony when the west grants billions of dollars of aid to strategically and politically sensitive countries in the middle east and else where. Something doesn't make sense any more. If the west wants to make Ethiopia a grain recipient at a professional level, then they shouldn't expect things will improve for the better. Get engaged or bust. I remember on an interview to a western friend of Ethiopia who knows the country from the times of Haile Sellasie, when asked about why he thinks Ethiopia's image has sank into a historically low stage in this age and time; his answer to my surprise was, "I can't guarantee it will get any better but just continue like that..." Then I remembered a saying similar to this: "...it is fun when it is some one else who is suffering..."
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 20:18

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msg Comment from: sinbinaw [Visitor]
I just share most of Omo's ideas. Please, just read it.
PermalinkPermalink 10/26/09 @ 20:55

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msg Comment from: Cay-enne [Visitor]
NO NO NO
Wey Good ur not right:!:
"WE THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA"we have some proverb"Kemsrk Melemen Yishalal"so not only Tigray ppl.all of our ppl.are ....oh it is to hard to say THAT:|
PermalinkPermalink 10/27/09 @ 00:03

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msg Comment from: Kidus [Visitor]
There is drought in Ethiopia there it is also some other country such as China.I really don't think so there is famine in Ethiopia, rather we can call it there is bad norms in Ethiopia. Because I have seen on the TV donkeys,caws and other animals they are also starved with the people. The question is why starved people don't eat those animals before dying? I also agree the routers writer Barry Malone, why the west give an aid for Ethiopia every time? cause the country is reach with respect to resource as compare with South Korea and other countries.I think this is really ridicules why the government of Ethiopia don't control the population of Ethiopia and don't utilize the resources? May be I am not sure but the report that was disseminated has it's own agenda I may thought for get foreign currency in the cost of countries and people name and reputation because the Ethiopian banks has been broken regarding foreign currency. The other puzzle where is the country Economic development that was token by the Ethio TV and the walta information center and By MELESE.I'm not really clear about this definition of famine in Ethiopia.
PermalinkPermalink 10/27/09 @ 02:03

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msg Comment from: Seleme [Visitor]


. . .how about, if West stop feeding Ethiopia?. . .



PermalinkPermalink 10/27/09 @ 09:04

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msg Comment from: loveme [Visitor]
Omo,

God bless you!
PermalinkPermalink 10/27/09 @ 21:06

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