The devestation these people have seen, the utter hopelessness of their situation, their faces expressionless, deviod of emotion even when they were receiving food. Enough only to last a few days.
As I walked through the camp of temporary houses I tried rationalizing in an attempt to stop the tears. Its not that bad, its fine for a family of 6 to live in a 6ft sq grass shack, open to all the elements, without food or even a blanket. Its OK. Its fine for these people to scavange what roots and leaves they can, its OK for them to wonder what they will feed their children. Its OK. No its not OK. And as my reasoning fell to pieces in the dust, my heart broke for them.
I know that they were happy with their lives. Their crops are nearly ready to be harvested, their chickens were scratching in the dust and the radio was happily blaring out music. Neighbors sitting outside the in the shade of a porch, and dinner is prepared over the coal fire. And now, now they have nothing.
We could feed 244 families with the bit of food the 3 of us could buy. Enough for a few days, maybe a week if they stretched it. The blanket, candle, matches and cup was welcomed too. But mainly the food.
On the northern bank of the Zambezi a team from Iris Pemba were giving out food to over a 1000 families.
The Dondo team will do the same on the southern shore when more funds are available.
Donate in South Africa
(mark the funds for flood relief)
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