A Pain Most Of Us Will Never Know

Things are so bad in eastern Kenya that mothers are forced to let weaker children die to prolong the lives of the other children, and the infant mortality rate has tripled in the refugee camps.  People are pouring in looking for help, and sometimes the help is too little too late.  Hundreds make it to the camps only to die from chronic starvation and dehydration.

Frequently, they do not want to go - they say they need to forage for food, water and firewood for their other children - often as many as seven or eight - and they cannot afford to be away from their families.

To some mothers, the weak, malnourished child has become a burden and they are prepared to let it die - a sacrifice in order to save their other children.

ontinue reading the main storyAid workers like Abubakar have to negotiate hard with mothers to convince them to change their minds.

 It's hard to fathom survival circumstances so dire.  It's also a reminder that the rest of the world is facing unprecedented losses and increasing hunger.