Christian Aid launches emergency East Africa hunger appeal
Published on 21 July 2022
Church of Scotland partner organisation Christian Aid has launched an emergency appeal to help people in East Africa survive a growing hunger crisis.
After the worst drought in 40 years, vulnerable people are now facing the threat of famine and dying. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 18.4m people across Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are missing meals.
Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, is urging everyone to contribute to Christian Aid's emergency appeal for East Africa.
"The Ukraine conflict is affecting food supplies for people across the globe and it is the most vulnerable who will suffer the most," he said.
"Christian Aid's appeal will help people in East Africa whose situation is already precarious due to the effects of climate change, and who are already threatened with famine.
"Working with local partners to deliver food, Christian Aid can help prevent the worst effects of food insecurity.
"Please give generously knowing that your gift will save lives and prevent suffering.
"In addition, we all should urge our political representatives to restore the international aid budget to the 0.7% target as a matter of humanitarian urgency."
Working through local partners, Christian Aid is already responding in Ethiopia and Kenya. The charity is helping over 300,000 people by repairing wells, handing out water purification kits, providing cash support and trucking water to drought affected communities as well as distributing fodder and medicine to keep valuable livestock alive.
Yitna Tekaligne, Country Director for Christian Aid Ethiopia, warns that "millions are taking desperate measures to survive in the face of failed harvests, livestock deaths, water shortages and extreme hunger."
He added: "The severe conditions are being made worse by the climate crisis, Covid, and now Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused global food prices to rocket. A tough situation has now turned into a dire crisis. To help us respond, please donate what you can. Acting now is also about hope - a hope you can create with a donation today."
One of the many people Christian Aid is supporting is Adoko Hatoro Engang. He is 76 and living in an internally displaced person camp in South Omo with his family. Recurrent drought and flash flooding has destroyed his farmland and depleted his livestock. This is causing hunger for his family.
"I remember when I was young, the rains would follow the drought season, and flooding devastated everything," Adoko Hatoro Engang explains. He adds: "If I am able, I eat once a day. We only share very small amounts of food we cook, using the money Christian Aid gave us."
Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland, said:
"It is morally indefensible that our global neighbours, people like Adoko, are struggling to eat. Children and women are impacted the most by the hunger crisis and many children are showing signs of malnourishment.
"The Scottish Government has just awarded Christian Aid funding from its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to help vulnerable families in southern Ethiopia, providing cash for food essentials and supporting those who urgently need access to essential health services. With your generous support we can do much more."
Christian Aid tells us that:
- a £15 donation could provide seeds and farming tools for one household,
- £30 will buy water hygiene kits to provide clean drinking water for six families, and
- £50 will supply food for a household of five.