"Feed My Sheep!"

The U.N has formally declared Somalia to be in a famine largely due to severe drought affecting the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia). Thousands of refugees flee the war torn country every day. Armed conflict has seriously affected food supplies and international relief efforts. By the way these two father's are carrying their dying children to a hospital in hopes of saving their lives.

The UN reports that in southern Somalia, 310,000+ people experiencing severe malnutrition! According to the International Red Cross, 1 in 10 children in parts of Somalia are at risk of starving to death!

In one British article Somalian humanitarian coordinator, Mark Bowden warned: "If we don't act now, famine will spread to all eight regions of southern Somalia within two months, due to poor harvests and infectious disease outbreaks......We still do not have all the resources for food, clean water, shelter and health services to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis in desperate need."

British reporter Mark Tran reports:

The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) said the crisis represented the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today, in terms of scale and severity.

"Current humanitarian response is inadequate to meet emergency needs," it said. "Assuming current levels of response, evidence suggests that famine across all regions of the south will occur in the coming one to two months. A massive multisectoral response is critical to prevent additional deaths and total livelihood/social collapse and, most immediately, interventions to improve food access and to address health/nutrition issues are needed."

The UN says nearly half of the population in Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis and in urgent need of aid. The number of people in crisis has increased by more than 1 million in the last six months. More than 166,000 Somalis have fled the country since the start of the year, with more than 100,000 of those leaving since May.

It just hit me that I complained to my wife last night about the upcoming fasting and surgery prep I will soon face before my robotic surgery. How lame, how sad, how downright selfish! My first prep day of clear liquids will find my belly fuller than most Somalis. "God forgive my inexcusable selfishness in light of the devastation in Africa."

I'll bet most domestic animals in the U.S. have better food and water conditions than Somalia's children. While there are many worthy Christian relief agencies around the world, no one is equipped, resourced and established to save and feed children on a global scale like UNICEF. If you want to help feed/save a starving child and get the resources on site asap just click here UNICEF.

Some sobering words from Jesus to every Christ follower in light of this crisis:

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40 ESV)