Jill Biden, Bill Frist to visit famine-affected Horn of Africa

[WhiteTara]

Source: CBS News

Vice President Joe Biden's wife Jill Biden is leading a delegation of high-level American officials to the Horn of Africa this weekend to witness the severe famine affecting the area.


"As the situation in Somalia and East Africa so clearly illustrates, we all need to be responding to the very human tragedy that is unfolding," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday.


The delegation includes Raj Shah, administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz from the State Department. Former Sen. Bill Frist is also going, according to the nonprofit Hope Through Healing Hands.


The drought and famine in Somalia have killed more than 29,000 children under the age of 5 in the last 90 days in southern Somalia alone, according to U.S. estimates. Out of a population of about 7.5 million, the United Nations says 3.2 million Somalis are in need of immediate lifesaving assistance.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20088818-503544.html

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That is staggering that 10,000 small children are dying each month in Somalia. If there is hell on earth, I think this might be it. :cry:

[MADem]

1. Why is Frist going? Jill can just tape the devastation, and Frist can diagnose it remotely.

He's got "mad skillz" that way, as the kids say....

[Solly Mack]

4. I was thinking the same thing

[mascarax]

11. My first thought too - geez, save the money, Bill!

Although they don't deserve any visit or diagnosis from Frist.

[Lasher]

12. He heard there's lots of cats there that need killing.

[Blue_Tires]

15. Black Africans dying is like snuff porn to him...

[cbayer]

2. Just as an interesting perspective, this is a facebook post from my daughter who is working there:

"Not a fan of humanitarian tourism. I understand that the journalists, cameras and high-level visitors are needed to bring awareness and donations in a time of great need...but it sure makes getting any REAL work done very difficult!"

[WhiteTara]

3. Your daughter is a bodhisatva! Please

thank her for me.

[cbayer]

5. I will. She is amazing (no bias here!)

:toast:

[Solly Mack]

6. Please Thank your daughter for me.

[cbayer]

7. I will. I will be going to see her in November and can thank her in person.

:toast:

[Solly Mack]

8. Wonderful!! Have a safe trip and a great reunion!!!

[Gin]

9. hopefully they will bring needed supplies.....the situation is awful

there.

[renate]

14. your daughter must be such a compassionate and brave person

I wish I'd seen this thread yesterday so I could have recommended it--she deserves a zillion K&R's!

You must be SO proud of her!

[Javaman]

10. Oh come on Frist, you mean a video tape would't do? nt

[truthisfreedom]

13. .