Christian World Service has launched an appeal for the Horn and East Africa in response to the worst drought in 60 years.  After two failed rain seasons and with food prices skyrocketing over 10 million people face starvation and are in need of rapid assistance.  CWS is asking for help now.
The ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) of which CWS is a member has partners working on the ground throughout the region.  Staff have reported that the crisis has been building for some time and now say they have never seen such a crisis in their lifetime.  One staff member working with the Somali Refugee Programme reported, “Here, things are changing by the hour and the situation has never been this bad.’  They are asking for immediate support to halt the escalating famine.
Funds are urgently needed to:• Provide water in villages, including the rehabilitation of water points• Deliver food supplies including supplementary feeding for children, the elderly and nursing mothers.• Supply animal feed, crucial for local survival
To donate to the Horn of Africa Appeal call 0800 74 73 72, visit www.cws.org.nz or post donations to CWS, PO Box 22652, Christchurch 8140.
The UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Eastern Africa reports that more than 9 million people are in need of humanitarian aid: 3.2 million in Ethiopia, 117,000 in Djibouti, 2.6 million in Somalia and 3.2 million in Kenya.  Drought and displacement have left Kenya and Ethiopia particularly vulnerable.
CWS is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of 100 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance and development.  Further details at www.actalliance.org
7 July 2011