UN Camps - Ethiopia - April/May 2012

The sign in front of the Refugee Camp Administrative offices (a small building with two small tables for desks) tells the story…”They took my home but they cannot take my future.” (UNHCR = United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) The greatest problem in Eritrea is hunger. The government refuses to receive food while two-thirds of its population is malnourished…largest proportion in the world.

When the refugees arrive they are given a plastic covered temporary home. There are four people to every tent so you could be sharing living space with strangers. The hillsides are covered with these tents that provide a home to more than 30,000 refugees…with more arriving. An Ethiopian authority said, “We don’t know what we are going to do with them.”

There are two camps with approximately 15,000 people each, that are allowing us to come and help. Each day water, food and supplies are brought in by truck. We have been invited to those UN Camps to bring both Humanitarian and Spiritual Aid to these peoples.

The kitchen complete with necessary cooking utensils. Popcorn is always served to guests, along with coffee that is stronger than any available anywhere. Notice the brown utensil next to the large container of oil. That is where our friend grinds the coffee beans after she has cooked them on the “stove” and just before popping the popcorn. The coffee pot is just behind the brown utensil, small, with red handle.

The coffee is served in small cups about 1/3 to 1/2 full of sugar…which is necessary. Each guests is “expected” to drink at least three cups as an expression of appreciation. Coffee usually has ginger and burns from the time it touches the lips until…

The meeting place…water. The water is brought by truck and probably from a nearby river. Normally each family is allowed a certain amount and this is probably the case here.

Bekalu in the red shirt is our contact/interpreter. He is a member of our partner organization in Addis Ababa (capital city of Ethiopia). The other three will lead this group and hopefully help start “helping groups” in the other two existing refugee camps.

The report is that 90% of the people in the camps are younger than 19 years of age…difficult to believe. But, even more difficult to anticipate what their life will be if we do not get involved!

This will be an incredibly difficult trip. The flights alone are over 20 hours long - followed by a rugged truck trip to the encampments. We will be staying right outside them for the entire duration of the trip.

Please pray for our safety - this is a troubled part of our world. Please pray for wisdom - that we may make the best of every opportunity afforded us.