J.B. Russell

Reportage: Ethiopia - Drought and Famine

The people of Ethiopia's southern region of Ogaden are for the most part nomadic herdsmen. They live in one of the most arid and inhospitable places on earth. To survive in such a harsh environment they must be extraordinarily resilient. Failed rainy seasons and prolonged drought is occurring with ever-greater frequency. Scarce water sources are rapidly disappearing, the livestock on which the population relies is dying and the region is chronically confronted with famine.

Nomads in the southern Ethiopian region of Ogaden migrating with a herd of goats in search of water and forage. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A woman constructs a hut in a camp for people displaced by drought. The majority of inhabitants in Ethiopia's southern region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen. Following four years of failed rainy seasons, hundreds of thousands in the Horn of Africa face the threat of famine.Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Villagers seek water in one of the few wells that has yet to run dry in the southern Ethiopian region of Ogaden. The Horn of Africa has suffered four years of drought and thousands face the threat of famine. Hadawe, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A family sits with the last remaining cow of their herd. The majority of inhabitants in Ethiopia's southern region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen who depend on their livestock for survival. After four years of failed rains hundreds of thousands in the Horn of Africa face the threat of widespread famine. Ade Adey, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A young boy in a camp for people displaced by drought. The majority of inhabitants in Ethiopia's southern region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen. After four years of failed rainy seasons, hundreds of thousands in the Horn of Africa face the threat of famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Pastoral nomads in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia migrating with their livestock in search of water and forage. The region has suffered four years without rain. As water sources disappear and livestock perish in the drought, the people of the region face widespread famine.Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A woman prays by her hut in a camp for people displaced by drought. After four years without rain, the southern region of Ogaden faces widespread famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Infant twins suffering from extreme malnutrition lie in a hut in a remote settlement waiting for humanitarian aid to reach the drought stricken region of Ogaden. Bergun, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
There is little food or water left in the tiny and remote settlement of Ade Adey. Many of the inhabitants are too weak to walk the 30 kilometers across the bush to a town where humanitarian aid may arrive. Ade Adey, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
The body of a young girl who has just died of malnutrition in a camp for people displaced by severe drought in southern Ethiopia. Following four years of failed rains, the region of Ogaden faces the threat of widespread famine.Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A child who has died of hunger is buried near a camp for people displaced by severe drought. The majority of inhabitants in the southern Ethiopian region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen. After four years of failed rains, hundreds of thousands face the threat of famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
People migrating from the bush to villages in search of food and water. The majority of inhabitants in the southern Ethiopian region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen. After four years of failed rainy seasons, hundreds of thousands face the threat of famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A child suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) therapeutic feeding center. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A woman in a camp for people displaced by drought. Following four years of failed rains, hundreds of thousands in the Horn of Africa face the threat of widespread famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A child suffering from severe malnutrition is weighed at a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) therapeutic feeding center. Following four years of failed rains, hundreds of thousands face the threat of famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Women and children suffering from severe malnutrition at a MSF therapeutic feeding center. The majority of inhabitants in the southern Ethiopian region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen. After four years of failed rainy seasons, hundreds of thousands face the threat of widespread famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A mother washes her child who is suffering from malnutrition at a supplimentary feeding center. Gode, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A child suffering from severe malnutrtion at a Medecins Sans Frontieres therapeutic feeding center. The majority of inhabitants in the southern Ethiopian region of Ogaden are nomadic herdsmen. Following four years of failed rains, hundreds of thousands face the threat of widespread famine. Denan, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Humanitarian food aid arriving at an International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) warehouse. Gode, Ethiopia.Photo © J.B. Russell