Thursday, July 28, 2011

SOMALIA'S TINIEST VICTIMS


The Gift Giver
by Judy Westergard
oil on canvas
all rights reserved
On Wednesday, July 28, 2011 the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a poignant article entitled "Somalia's Tiniest Victims." The article, written by Katharine Houreld and Khaled Kazzha of the Asociated Press, featured a heart-breaking photo by Schalk Van Zuydam (Assoc. Press). "At only 7 pounds, (the infant in the photograph) weighs as much as a newborn," the authors write, "but has the weathered look of an elderly man. (This infant) is just one of 800,000 children who officials warn could die across the Horn of Africa. Aid workers are rushing to bring help to dangerous and previously ureached regions of drought-ravaged Somalia."

Words like tragic, horrific, heart-rending don't begin to define this catastrophe. I've put the link to the article below. If you are moved to send a contribution and are in a financial position that enables you to do so, I urge you to consider a donation, no matter how small. The article includes the contact information of three Minnesota-based groups that are helping in the crisis. Entering "Somalia relief organizations" in your search window will also get you a list of such organizations.

Does Somalia seem far away? Go to the Star Tribune article and look at the face of that child. Trust me; the photograph will hit you in your heart. And, if you have a blog, you have my permission to copy and paste this blog entry of mine onto your blog.
http://www.startribune.com/world/126221658.html

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