Famine and Foreigners: Ethiopia since Live Aid

297 Pages·2010·1.25 MB·English

by  Peter Gill

‘Th ank God for great journalism. Th is book is a much needed, ex-
haustively researched and eff ortlessly well written recent history of
Ethiopia. A book that strips away the cant and rumour, the pros and
antis and thoroughly explains the people, politics and economics of
that most beautiful nation. A superb and vital piece of work by some-
one who clearly loves the country of which he writes.’
Bob Geldof
‘Th e great Ethiopian famine changed everything and nothing. It fun-
damentally altered the rich world’s sense of its responsibility to the
hungry and the poor, but didn’t solve anything. A quarter of a century
on, we’re still arguing about the roots of the problem, let alone the so-
lution, and—though there has been progress—Ethiopia’s food inse-
curity gets worse, not better. Peter Gill was one of the most thorough
and eff ective television journalists of his generation. He was there in
1984 and his work at the time added up to the most sensible, balanced
and comprehensive explanation of what had happened. Twenty-fi ve
years later, he’s gone back to test decades of aspiration against the re-
alities on the ground. It’s a book that bridges journalism and history,
judicious analysis with a strong, and often gripping, narrative. Always
readable, but never glib, this is a must for all those who think there is
a simple answer to the famine, still waiting in the wings.’
Michael Buerk
‘No outsider understands Ethiopia better than Peter Gill. He com-
bines compassion with a clinical commitment to the truth. He writes
with verve and an eye for telling detail. Th e result is a major contribu-
tion to the compelling story of this remarkable nation.’
Jonathan Dimbleby
‘Famine and Foreigners is the essential book on Ethiopia, the world’s
crucible for hunger and poverty—and development theory and prac-
tice. Moving between the lives of ordinary Ethiopians and the con-
troversies among their leaders and the theoreticians of international
development, Peter Gill guides the reader through a fascinating story
of suff ering, resilience and enthusiasm—often misguided—for for-
mulae for development.’
Alex de Waal
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Famine and Foreigners: Ethiopia Since Live Aid
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Famine and Foreigners:
Ethiopia Since Live Aid
Peter Gill
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ISBN 978–0–19–956984–7
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Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Note on the Text xiii
Map of Ethiopia xiv
Introduction: For Richer, for Poorer 1
I. THEN
1. Return to Korem 9
2. The Famine Trail 24
3. Hunger as a Weapon 45
4. Rebels with a Cause 63
II. TRANSITIONS
5. Economic Warfare 79
6. How to Prevent a Famine 97
7. Population Matters 120
III. NOW
8. 2005 and All That 141
9. Down with Democracy? 161
10. Free Association 175
11. Pastoral Affairs 196
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contents
IV. PROSPECTS
12. Spoiling the Party 221
13. Enter the Dragon 238
14. Us and Them 255
Select Bibliography 268
Index 271
viii
Acknowledgements
Several aid agencies made it possible for me to travel into the
Ethiopiancountrysideandmeetthepeopleonwhoseexperiences
and reflections much of this story is based. In the North I was
generously received by Ambassador Tewolde Gebru, director of
the Tigray Development Association. Yohannes Seyoum Sahle-
mariam, head of public relations, was a wonderful travelling
companion. With Action Aid I made stimulating trips into the
hillsaroundKorem,epicentreofthe1984famine.Itwasthanksto
Wuletaw Hailemariam, director of the Organisation for the
ReliefandDevelopmentofAmhara,thatIspentaweektravelling
through the highlands of Amhara to the border lowlands and
backtotheshoresofLakeTana.Ontheway,Iwasassistedbythe
organization’s excellent fieldstaff.FortwodaysinWolloIrelied
on the expertise of Save the Children Fund UK, which first
worked there 70 years ago. In southern Ethiopia I was aided by
charities with a strong local presence: the Family Guidance As-
sociation of Ethiopia, Community Development Initiative, and
the Rift Valley Children and Women Development Association.
During my stay in Somali Region, I was looked after by Guled
Abdullahi, head of the president’s office in Jijiga, and made
welcome in Gode by Abdinasir Mohammed, the zonal adminis-
trator. I am grateful to them all.
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