East African Hunger

As the world approaches the 25th anniversary of the 1984 East African famine, Canada’s leading aid agencies are warning of a new crisis looming in East Africa. A perfect storm of crop failures, a multi-year lack of rain, the effects of climate change, conflicts and political turmoil threaten some 20 million people with severe hunger in East Africa.

“The rainy seasons successively have been poor. Then you have the other problems of post-election violence in Kenya, the war in Somalia that led to the displacement of people and the inability to plant crops. All of this increases food insecurity,” says Stephen Gwynne-Vaughan, Country Director of CARE’s Kenya office. “The resiliency of these people has been stretched beyond its limits. They can’t take any more shocks.”

The members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION – CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada – have already launched programs throughout the region to support the vulnerable communities being affected.  Canadians wishing to support those programs are invited to donate online through the HUMANITARIAN COALITION web site.

Through the coordination of these top agencies, Canadian donations will be allocated where they will be most effective.

“This is the kind of crisis that demands we work together,” said Robert Fox, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada. “We are playing a critical role with the people on the frontline of this crisis, the people who are desperately doing everything they can to feed their families and protect their herds. We hope Canadians will support our efforts.”

With a combined presence in over 120 countries, the joint efforts by the members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION provide a widespread and effective response to emergencies.