Hunger and misery haunt many African countries.

Just imagine that about every four seconds

Someone dies of hunger in Africa 

Many Africans live in countries

That are ripped apart

By wars, famine, and drought 

Countries like the Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique

Burundi, Uganda, and the Congo

- – -

In these countries

There exists subsistence farming

Many of the children are malnourished

And are skin and bones

With large heads and bulging eyes

- – -

In many villages

There are no hospitals nor clinics

And women have to trek

Many miles to seek medical attention

Where there’s often a lack of medication

It’s for them

A matter of life or death

- – -

With little or no food to eat

And an inadequate supply

Of drinking water

Due to the lack of wells

Many fall prey to diseases

Like river blindness, malaria

Sleeping disease

And die before receiving

Any medical attention

- – -

To add to their plight

HIV has caused AIDS

And so far ravaged

More than 25 million on the continent

Leaving in its wake

15 million orphans

With no place to turn

- – -

According to the World Health Organization

One third of all people in the world

Are starving

And every year, 15 million children

Die from starvation

- – -

In most of these countries

The leaders are corrupt

And one in four people live

On less that one U.S. dollar per day

- – - 

It’s sad to see

That often food and medicine donated 

Image by US Mission Geneva via Flickr

Image by US Mission Geneva via Flickr

By worldwide charitable organizations 

Fall into the hands of these same leaders

Instead of the starving Africans 

And end up being sold on the black market

- – -

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Comments (17)
  • Farzeela Fee Faisal on Aug 24, 2011

    Very well defined Erwin, what could be worse than the fact where the neighbor lavishes all the luxuries of life…

  • ashan1614 on Aug 24, 2011

    I think there is a special place in hell for those leaders who intercept and confiscate the supplies that are donated for the good of the people and use them for monetary gain while the people suffer and die.

  • okkhattak on Aug 24, 2011

    very good.thanx

  • CHIPMUNK on Aug 24, 2011

    There is hunger in many other parts of the world it is just not shown thanks for the good read

  • James Henry Abrina on Aug 24, 2011

    Afriaca’s case is a never ending story. It also has something to do with geography.

  • Ruby Hawk on Aug 24, 2011

    It’s a terrible situation. It is deplorable but what can be done if the food donated is stolen by people in charge?

  • pattiann on Aug 24, 2011

    Excellent. Is is shameful for anywhere to starve because I read that there is enough food that the whole world should have enough to eat.

  • aheed411 on Aug 24, 2011

    The best article I read

  • vickylass on Aug 24, 2011

    African poverty was caused by many of the western world powers and they are interested in keeping these corrupt leaderships so they can get from them what these powers want. Perhaps they should need a leadership and an organisation to fight for freedom and to start rebuilding their countries. Charity they say it´s necessary, but at the end of the day it doesn´t sort out much, if it does. Thanks for sharing.

  • yiqing on Aug 24, 2011

    Very good article!

  • Hugo La Rosa on Aug 24, 2011

    That’s really sad and outrageous at the same time!

  • ladym33 on Aug 24, 2011

    Very good share regarding this sad situation in Africa,

  • mtrguanlao on Aug 24, 2011

    Sad to hear it :(

  • Martin Kloess on Aug 25, 2011

    yet we have enugh money for “bullets”

  • pruelpo on Aug 25, 2011

    How awful are these leaders! It is sad to know…

  • FX777222999 on Aug 26, 2011

    God loves Africa…and for the people.

  • ilovebaboy on Aug 28, 2011

    Terrible when I see photos and video clips of those people in Africa. Makes me think how lucky I am. =(

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