Above: A quarter century after the painfully wrenching
images of hungry children invaded living rooms around
the world, familiar faces still linger as millions of Ethiopians
remain dependent on food aid. (Sven Torfinn Photography)
The Huffington Post:
My colleague Marc Cohen, a senior researcher at Oxfam America, reflects on the 25th anniversary since the devastating famine of 1984 in Ethiopia. He was in the country a few months ago: Twenty-five years ago, Michael Buerk’s dramatic BBC footage from Korem, in northern Ethiopia, brought a devastating famine to the world’s attention. Tens of thousands of people had sought refuge from war and drought in the town. Every 20 minutes, a camp resident died from hunger and related diseases. Buerk called Korem “the closest thing to hell on earth.” Read the whole story: The Huffington Post.
Video: The 1984 Ethiopian famine (BBC)
Related from Tadias archives: We are the World
Above: To raise money for the 1984-1985 famine in Ethiopia,
45 popular singers collaborated to record the charity single
“We Are the World”, co-written by Michael Jackson and
Lionel Richie. They included Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder,
Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, The Pointer Sisters, Kenny Rogers,
Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner and
many more. (Photo: United Support of Artists for Africa)
The Song Michael Jackson Co-wrote to Benefit Ethiopia
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Monday, June 28, 2009
New York (Tadias) – The painfully wrenching images of hungry children, which invaded living rooms around the world in the mid 80’s, prompted Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to organize the 1985 Live Aid concert and ‘raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia’. The multi-nation event, which showcased some of the biggest names in the music industry, included Michael Jackson, who co-wrote the project’s signature song “We Are the World” along with Lionel Richie. The song was recorded on the night of January 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards. Read more.
Video: We Are The World
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Today 25 years later 6 million need emergency food aid. shame
Are we really worse than Somalia or some other nations with colonial history? Why is the west obsessed in showing us as weak. I have the answer. Simply because we stood up against colonization. Listen west keep on dreaming u will never ever touch my land.
Reality check: Nature and human stupidity contributed to the great famine of 1984, not western colonization. In 1984, Ethiopia was a under a homegrown power-drunk soldier called Mengistu Haile Mariam, not foreign occupation. He should be brought to justice for this. Today, even worse – over 13 million starving. Please, fukera about our past glory does not bring bread to these people. Reality check please.