ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Millions, as in lives -- that's what's at stake now in drought-ravaged Ethiopia. But the United Nations says those millions can be saved if donors worldwide act "quickly and generously." While aid workers labor frantically in the region, the U.N. also is criticizing Ethiopian officials. It says they could undermine relief efforts by refusing to use the ports of neighboring Eritrea. The two countries are engaged in a border war. And as John Irvine reports, for some, aid is already too late.</s>JOHN IRVINE, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): The wilderness in which they can survive is now a wasteland in which they cannot. In their thousands, the nomads are fleeing the scorched earth to congregate in makeshift camps. Many die on the journey they are forced to make. This five-year old boy, Abdi (ph), is know an orphan. As well as his mother and father, he lost his sister on the long trek here. In the past two days, 300 more people have arrived, because they are newcomers, a local charity provides them with a ration of wheat. But the food too coarse for the babies -- they eat it anyway, but many of them contract dysentery. On average, seven children die here each day. And there is no sign of any international relief aid. (on camera): The water supply for this village has now run out. There are full water tankers about 10 miles from here, but the problem is there's no diesel for the larries (ph). The much talked about coordinated relief effort is yet to materialize here. (voice-over): They living on hope. Today, this women lit cooking fire, but she never got any food to prepare. During his prayers, this man asked his god to provide the help his fellow man has not. John Irvine, ITN, Southern Ethiopia.
Millions of Lives at Stake in Drought-Ravaged Ethiopia