At the RAS one of the main things we do is events; political, cultural and business. At our last meeting it was suggested we put on an event on the famine taking place in the Horn of Africa.
This year like all other years it is all over the news; crying children, skeletal animals and stick thin women, all stomach retching images that pull at our heart strings.
Richard’s response to this was, sorry but I do not understand why the famine is a surprise to NGOs, researchers, governments... it happens every year and WFO and other so called humanitarian organisations should be prepared.
I am not sure if RAS will do an event on this topic, but it would be good to know why no one is ever prepared. I hope the need to ask for more money and raise awareness of NGOs by creating appeals is not why we in the UK only hear about the famine when people are in dire need and the time to prep is over because relief is needed now.
Olamide