My wife and I have been saddened by the pictures of Somalians who are fleeing from their country because of the protracted famine that is taking the toll on the lives of the people. Yesterday when watching the ABC News, we saw ex-President Jerry John Rawlings of Ghana seated on a dirt floor in a Refugee Camp and weeping profusely. In fact, my wife and I were also moved to tears not only because the ex-President was weeping, but also the sight of the decimated and emaciated bodies of both adults and children in the refugee camp. Some of the parents and children could not make the arduous journey from Somalia to the Refugee Camp. They succumbed to death because their bodies gave up due to the hunger, thirst, and weariness they had endured since they left their home country. Literally, it took them days to reach the Refugee site.
The reason for this write up is simple. What is the Leadership of the African Union going to do to help to alleviate this indescribable situation? Are our political leaders going to shrug their shoulders, close their ears, shut their eyes, and fold their hands without doing anything to help these dying people? Are our political leaders expecting the United States and the United Nations to provide food, water, medication, manpower, and all the logistics while they are making no efforts to contribute their quota? I have some suggestions for all the African nations to contribute to help save many of these people, especially the children who are dying of malnutrition and hunger pang.
First, I suggest that the Presidents of Ghana and Nigeria should mobilize the other West African leaders to provide:
1. Cash---Whatever is collected can be converted to dollars or Euros
2. Medicine--Give some of what we have in stored
3. Food (imperishable food) Wheat, peanut butter, bread, seasoned fish, rice, beans, etc.
4. Medical Personnel--some of our skillful doctors and nurses
5. Pipe borne and well treated water--these can be shipped or sent by air, whichever can reach the people on time
6. Military Teams to accompany the medical team and delivery of the goods to the Refugee Camps.
Second, the Churches in Africa have a unique role to play.
1. The Churches should pray and fast for rain in the famine-laden places (especially, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, etc)
2. The Pastors should organize fast and intensive prayer vigils for the famine to stop. This requires continued intercessions
3. The Pastors should organize and collect love offerings from their respective churches and denominations to be sent to these starving and dying people. They can send a delegation to make sure the money is going to the right hands.
Time has come for the African nations and churches to come together to help our own people that are suffering. This suffering is not a self-inflicted one. It is a natural catastrophe that is beyond the control of the affected nations. Those of us here in the Diaspora also should make this an earnest prayer burden in our churches. We should in addition, contribute financially to assist this worthy cause. Jesus said that on the Day of Judgment the believing community, besides our gift of salvation that came through His shed blood, would be judged by what we did for others, especially those in dire need like our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and children in Somalia and elsewhere. He reiterated that so far as we did it for the sick, the helpless, those in incarceration, and the hungry we have done it for Him. Even if some of our people are not Christians, they have to realize that we are all a part of the human race. Therefore, whatever affects one nation affects us all. Humanitarian and philanthropic deeds to meet and alleviate human suffering are worthy causes that cannot be denied, ignored, undermined, or rejected. Such help transcends religious, racial, cultural, and social barriers. May the Lord provide rain and all the necessary help that He deems expedient and proper to save the suffering masses of Sub-Saharan Africa that are encountering this unprecedented famine, Amen.
Kennedy Ahenkora Adarkwa, PhD.
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