ACT Alliance

The old men tell us that they collect the dead animals near the village and burn them to avoid diseases. One of the old men adds ironically, “In a month or so you can collect us."

Piles of grey ash - the burnt remains of cow carcasses - lie around villages in Borena, south Ethiopia.

It’s a potent symbol, says Rikke Holm, who works in the Horn of Africa for ACT member Dan Church Aid.

Reporting by text message, he says “The old men tell us that they collect the dead animals near the village and burn them to avoid diseases. One of the old men adds ironically “In a month or so you can collect us.”

They say they have repeatedly explained that the situation is critical. “Why do you keep asking?” they demand.

It hasn’t rained here since May 2010. Drinking water has been transported to one of the villages once a week. This day only the youngest children get a cup of black tea with a tiny bit of sugar. The adults have nothing.

A baby girl is sucking her mum’s dried-up breast. The only young men left in the village have heard rumors that things are better in Kenya. “There people get some help,” they say.