A disastrous landslide occurred in Korah, Ethiopia on March 12th. The death toll has now risen to 115 people – mostly women and children – and a significant number of injuries. Many more are still very much in need of rescue, medical supplies, food, water, and fundamental shelter. 100% of donations to this project go directly to a Korah Relief Center we are creating in response to this tragic event.
We are particularly saddened to hear that Kalkidan, one of the little girls supported by our Feeding Fund, partnering with Life To Live for Korah, was killed in the landslide. There are times we hear of a massive disaster on the other side of the world and we can’t even wrap our heads around it. It’s too big. And yet Kalkidan was small. And affectionate. She had a soft voice, a sweet nature and a smile that would melt you. But see for yourself. We filmed this only one year ago:
The people of Korah are urgently in need of medical supplies, food, water, and fundamental shelter.
In response to this tragic event, we are creating a Korah Relief Center, which will include supplies like teff – used like flour in Ethiopia – as well as water, mattresses, and blankets (especially important now due to cold temperatures at night and the immense destruction of homes).
How did a massive trash landslide happen? The village of Korah is built around a giant landfill. For years, villagers survived on the trash – scrapping for plastics to sell, finding food in the rubble. All that changed over a year ago when the government made plans to move the dumping. Due to multiple resistance issues, however, they recently resumed the dumping at Korah. Fisseha Tekle, the chief researcher for Amnesty International in Ethiopia, shares, “people are living in the middle of that…It’s not a landfill anymore, it’s like a mountain.” The triggered landslide destroyed homes and lives.
With the colder weather at nights in Addis Ababa this season, those displaced are in dire need of mattresses and blankets as well as food, water, and medical supplies. We will be traveling to Korah very soon and will be bringing much-needed funds to purchase these items in the country, which further supports the local economy and the people of the area.
100% of donations to this project go directly to purchasing items in support of the families impacted by this tragic event.
You can see the truly beautiful faces of the children and families who live in Korah, as well as scenes of the village, below.
We are leaving for Ethiopia in a few days. This is a staggering blow to an already struggling community. They are in shock, in tears, devastated. Reports tell of the police crying as they find bodies and mothers digging under trash in search of their children. Reports share some pretty unimaginable things.
You can help contribute to our Korah Relief Center here: https://www.beautifultogether.org/pr…/korah-disaster-relief/
Please consider giving or sharing this message. As relentless as tragic news can feel sometimes, there is always something we can do to help.
