In an era of donor fatigue, when many feel certain regions of the world are a write-off, and when there are calls for the de-funding of all foreign aid programs, its good to see prominent Americans are still making the call for US support and engagement. Former Senator and Physician Bill Frist (R-TN) was interviewed yesterday on his own first-hand observations in the Horn of Africa and what we need to do to help.
In an accompanying op-ed on the CNN website, Frist ellaborates further.
…We listened to a grief-stricken mother of five, who had marched for 15 days across the parched Somali land to find food and security in a border camp. They arrived malnourished, sick and thirsty to a camp of 430,000 other refugees. They competed with 1,500 others who had made it to the camp that day, only to find it filled to capacity. Inside they would find adequate food and water…
…Drawing from my experiences as a doctor in refugee camps in southern Sudan and Darfur, the conditions [Jill] Biden and I saw this week constitute among the worst, the result of a cruel nexus of war, drought and poverty. The issue is complex, but we know with certainty that a primary focus on health greatly improves the chances of preventing death and of establishing security throughout the Horn of Africa. It’s a worthy investment…
…Will the American people respond in these difficult times? I know based on my experiences in southern Sudan, Darfur, Chad, Haiti and Bangladesh that the American people will give generously and support our nation’s ongoing response…
Americans are at their best when they respond unselfishly to others in need — and they do so generously when they know that their investments, both personal gifts and government contributions, have value in saving lives in the short-term and supporting prevention in the long-term.
