The UN declaration of famine in the Horn of Africa is the first official declaration since almost a million people in Ethiopia starved to death in 1984.
Horn of Africa
(July 20) The UN declared the famine based on the following criteria:
- Seven people are dying per every 10,000 people affected.
- More than 50% of children are suffering from acute hunger.
- This is the worst drought experienced in the area in the last 60 years.
- More than 10,000 people have died already.
- The livelihood of more than 12 million people is threatened as they are in dire need of food aid.
In Somalia, if urgent action is not taken, it is predicted the famine will spread to all eight provinces of the country. Water, food, and basic necessities have become inaccessible to most people.
More than 800,000 people have fled the most drought affected areas in search of survival. People are flocking into camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Many people have walked hundreds of miles seeking help.
In Kenya the largest refugee camps are in Dadaab. Originally these camps were established to house 90,000 people. As of July 20, the camps’ capacity was exceeded, housing a refugee population of 440,000 people with 1,400 additional people arriving daily.
The World Health Organization stated that “8.8 million people are at risk of malaria and 5 million of cholera.” The problem is expected to worsen as the rains are not anticipated to arrive until October of this year. The shortage of man power due to mass fleeing will affect future agricultural production as well. Staple prices have risen to 240 percent in southern Somalia, 117 percent in southeastern Ethiopia, and 58 percent in northern Kenya.
The Church of the Nazarene through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries wants to help the suffering people in this region and will address issues of malnutrition, hunger, shelter, sanitation, and other basic necessities.
NCM teams already in the region will assess the needs and coordinate relief efforts.
NCM asks churches and Nazarenes to get the word out about the famine and the relief efforts. NCM developed a downloadable famine information flyer.
Persons and churches wishing to make a donation to the Horn of Africa Famine can do so online through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at ncm.org.
Checks can be marked “Horn of Africa Famine ACM1519" and mailed to Global Treasury Services, PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3.
--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries