Entering the drought zone

Thursday 22nd September

Sarite, nr Yebello, Borena

Yebello is like many of the African towns in the back and beyond I’ve visited: dusty, busy, colourful and built in the most basic, haphazard but functional way. Driving out from Yebello for two hours along dirt track road and then onto dirt track paths took me into an environment I’ve never seen before.

Vast dry plains that used to be lush green savannahs opened up with mountain ranges framing them in the background. There was ‘greenery’ but it was a drought resistant trees and bushes that don’t produce edible fruit or leaves for animals or humans. Beautiful species of birds darted through the air, lifting the spirits after seeing a dead camel by the side of the road. There were even monkeys and tiny deer call dic-dic. The wildlife was surprising given the heat and parched earth.

Eventually we arrived at a rehabilitated pond that SCIAF’s local partners had worked on as part of a cash for work programme to give people that are able to work some money for food for themselves and their families. The next few hours were spent listening to terrible stories of loss and unimaginable hardship. First I spoke to Bagajya Halake who told me he was 40, though he looked well over 50 years old. He told me:

“In the last three years there’s been no normal rain here, only showers. We are badly affected by the drought as we are losing our livestock as there is not sufficient water and no grazing land. I used to have 50 cattle including cows, sheep and goats, but now I’ve only got 10. Because of this my family and I have a problem getting enough food to eat. We can’t afford proper clothing or medicine if my family gets sick. My household income is much less. We are also more easily affected by small diseases and when they strike we cannot get medicine.

“Before the cash for work programme I was in a bad condition with nothing to feed myself and my family. With the money I received we were able to buy cereals such as maize, some clothes and also get medicine. If the humanitarian aid stops I will once again be in a bad way.

“If the rains come I plan to increase my income through breeding livestock and growing feed. If this drought continues I will lose everything, and then my life.”

Bagajya’s story was repeated throughout the day. Others I spoke to had walked for days to get to this area as it is better than where they had come from.

One of the cruellest things of the day was that clouds hung in the sky for hours in the afternoon but refused to part with their precious water.

SCIAF

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

Entering the drought zone