A poignant letter from Africa

Former Javea U3A member Rosa Mansell, who is now undertaking missionary work in Africa, has sent a letter updating her friends here on the plight of the poor children there.

Here is the content of her letter:

Dear friends, just to update you:

Letter from Zanzibar:  here we have had some heavy rain, which is not normal for October but good for the garden. I have collected over 50 litres of rainwater.

Maasai news: heavy rain in Handeni in the middle of Tanzania has wiped out the bridge for the bus to Songe.  Last year the maize grew to one metre then no rain so it all died. This means there has been little food and children going hungry. Also Daniel’s sister Rehema gave birth three weeks ago. Today we have heard the baby is dying with bloody diarrhoea, too late to take it to hospital. Probably if Rehema had more food this year, the baby would have been stronger and survived.

This is the reality on the front line of climate crisis, so please don’t think it is not already affecting Africa. It is! Ok for us in the west but we have caused this and we are responsible for these children going hungry and this baby dying.

Do what you can, but do something! You have no idea how hard life is here! We need money for food and to plant more maize in December and we need someone to raise 8000 euros for a well!

I know those of you who have been to Africa will say “Same old, same old”, but it is not getting any better. With the climate crisis it is getting worse because now the growing season is so unpredictable.