Amanda Lindhout continues her quest to help feed those starving in the Horn of Africa.
The former Red Deerian and freelance journalist who was held captive in Somalia in 2008 for over 15 months continues to return to the country where she suffered to help those who have been affected by the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations.
The Convoy For Hope, which distributes food to those in need and was spearheaded by Lindhout, has been continuously rolling out since August. So far the Convoy has fed over 64,000 Somalis and has vowed to feed at least 300,000 more.
On Lindhout’s first journey back to the country in July with the organization she founded, The Global Enrichment Foundation, she spearheaded the Convoy For Hope. It was the first food distribution truck that crossed the boarder into Somalia with Lindhout and a small team from Nairobi.
For the first time since she was freed from captivity, Lindhout set foot in Somalia on Aug. 4 as the convoy entered the country. Food baskets were handed out to more than 14,000 people affected by famine.
With her second Convoy For Hope, Lindhout and her organization were able to distribute food to 25,000 people. The third Convoy For Hope took place from Sept. 28-30 and fed another 25,000 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Future food distribution convoys are in the works.
In August, Lindhout spoke at CrossRoads Church and described how she’s experienced firsthand the desperate need of people in that famine stricken nation.
“The worst drought in 60 years has produced one of the most devastating famines our planet has ever seen,” she said at the time. “The famine is affecting 12 million people in the Horn of Africa in Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia which is the epicenter of this crisis.
“I have a responsibility to help these people. I have seen the face of hunger. Food is needed inside of Somalia.”
Lindhout has met many refugees who are hunger stricken and emaciated including one woman who had four children with her and they had walked 28 days to get to the Dadaab Refugee Camp.
“She told me that two of her children had died along the way – one from hunger and the other was eaten by a hyena. She held onto my hands and she begged me to help. She and her children hadn’t eaten for two days.”
On what was supposed to be her last day there, Lindhout saw a mother standing outside a clinic holding a tiny baby wrapped in a blanket.
“She was very distressed when she saw us coming over and she ran to us and held the baby out. The baby had just died. It looked like a skeleton. It had starved to death. The mother was crying but she had no tears because there wasn’t enough liquid left in her body to produce them.”
Lindhout continues to do much good in Somalia and looks to the Central Alberta community for help.
For more information or to donate to the Global Enrichment Fund and the Convoy of Hope visit www.globalenrichmentfoundation.com.
efawcett@reddeerexppress.com
