And no one seems to be paying any attention. The U.S. Committee for Refugees notes that the numbers threatened by the evolving famine in Sudan could well run into the millions. In many areas the suffering has already begun. In Sudanese refugee camps located in western Ethiopiathe same camps Congressman Mickey Leland was attempting to visit when his plane crashedthe stream of hungry Sudanese wandering in from the bush has begun. Many resemble stick figures. Roger Winter. executive director of the U.S. Committee for Refugees. recently returned from the camps. In 1988. Roger worked to raise public awareness of the famine that took the lives of as many as half a million Sudanese and his efforts helped save many lives. Today. Roger reports conditions similar to those he witnessed in 1988. He says many of the refugees arriving in Ethiopia today are severely malnourished. "Even now. many of the children I saw are no more than skin and bones." he wrote. "It is hard to imagine what conditions will be like when the worst of the famine strikes." These pictures were taken in the camps Just a few weeks ago. They are a startling reminder of the suffering that occurred in the very same camps just 2 years ago. Right now. the number of refugees arriving at the camps in western Ethiopia is not large and fortunately few are dying. But their very presence is an ominous sign of what is to come. They have left family and familiar surroundings to find food in the refugee camps. Population movements have also been noted in other areas of the country as people begin to search for food that is not available where they live. The AID Famine Early Warning System has noted that "[R]eports are now coming in from the South.
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Refugees refugee refugees