Environmental Public Health Commons^™

Journey In A Forgotten Land- Part 2: Food And Drought: The Broader Picture, Norman Miller

Dartmouth Scholarship

Kenya and Ethiopia handled the drought very differently, both in action and public statements. Ethiopian officials in the south spoke openly and candidly about famine and starvation and willingly gave access to mortality statistics. They also bitterly criticized the former regime for its inept attempt to deal with the famine. Kenya's administrators were cautious and guarded; they denied that any great suffering had occurred and sought to avoid publicity. Missionaries in northern Kenya were advised to give aid without fanfare, not to write home about the famine, and to keep conditions confidential.