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I was in northern kenya, which is suffering through the worst drought to hit the hom of africa in 60 years. the toll of deprivation is everywhere. in the village of kursin, emaciated livestock is collapsing in the middle of town; the local headmaster,ismael ali, told me they've "had a problem with dead carcasses around the school."(1)____ attendance has dropped sharply at the beginning of the year, as many families left with the parched region with their flocks, some even crossed into war-tom somalia in search of food.(2)____(3)____(4)____
the drought has been mounting for a year, but it wasn't until the crisis peaked over the summer that the news media and most international donors took notice. it's a familiar cycle: first comes the news media pictures of emaciated infants, followed by conferences on how to do better next time, visitors from top-level government officials and large financial commitments from international organizations and even donors like china and the ikea foundation.(5)____(6)____ the united states agency for international development and the ad council have even begun a celebrity public service campaign with the actors uma thurman and josh hartnett.
this is good news; the assistance is badly needed. yet the mismatch in timing rises a question that bedevils aid agencies.(7)____ like earthquakes or hurricanes, droughts and food price increases take time to develop, and the resulting hunger crises are forecast well in advance.(8)____ from water harvest to livestock support to cash assistance, there are a plenty of steps that have moderated the current crisis. why weren't they taken?(9)____(10)____
