Too Close For Comfort

Borana woman dreams of being old

At the age of 45, Loko Jarso finds herself asking for prayer for a long life. For Loko, death is not uncommon among her surroundings.

“We have lost our livestock; our cows and goats. They have all died except for one,” shares Loko.

With the cattle she once depended on for her family’s livelihood dead and their nomadic lifestyle impaired, Loko and the remaining 364 Borana families (totaling 2,500 people) made the difficult decision to stay in one spot at the ceremonial land in the Gadhamoji village in southern Ethiopia. 

Some of the villagers just waited to die, while others tried to pick up the pieces of their shattered identity. Loko was one of many that struggled daily from the devastating drought that troubled not only her country but the rest of the Horn of Africa. 

Adding to the complexity of her situation, two of Loko’s eight children, Abdub (two years old) and Kus (three years old), suffered with diarrhea and were severely malnourished.

“My husband is not well; he is weak and can’t work,” shares Loko. “All of the responsibility for taking care of ten people - my children, my husband and my mother - falls on me.” 

Like many of the Borana women, Loko tends to the kids, cooks for her family, fetches water, searches for what little grass she can for their one remaining cow, and cares for their makeshift shelter. 

Since there is no work in her village, Loko also searches for a ride to Moyale, a town located approximately 80 kilometers away, to try and sell a few things in order to make some money. 

“I cannot continue doing this alone,” states Loko. “It is hard looking after the younger children.” 

But on September 11, 2011
Loko experienced the first 
sign of hope in a very long time.

Global Aid Network (GAiN) and their local partners distributed 8,500 kilos of maize, 2,000 kilos of sugar and 400 litres of cooking oil to the 2,500 people as well as Fafa and powdered milk to the 106 malnourished children and 50 elderly individuals.

Three weeks later, more Fafa and powdered milk were distributed specifically to the malnourished. 

Soon after, another six truckloads containing 20,000 kg of maize, 10,000 kg of beans and 4,000 litres of cooking oil was distributed. 

“If it was not because of your help, many would have not lived,” states Loko.

GAiN reassured her that they will not forget about her, they love her, and they are committed to providing the nourishing food she needs every month until the people from the Gadhamoji village are self-sustaining. 

Today, the nutritionist from the government no longer finds Loko’s children malnourished. Their diarrhea is gone and their energy has started to return.

Loko expressed her gratitude and rejoiced in GAiN’s commitment to her people.