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20/04/2006
Oxfam launch huge East Africa food appeal
Oxfam has launched the biggest food crisis appeal in the charity's 60-year history.
The charity is asking the British public to give £20 million to fund its work in East Africa, where 11 million people are in urgent need of assistance.
There are already reports of people dying as a result of the crisis and the mortality rate could increase rapidly if sufficient aid is not delivered fast, according to Oxfam's aid workers on the ground.
Although other Oxfam appeals have brought in more than this one's £20 million target, this is the first time Oxfam has gone to the public with such a large request.
"This crisis might be getting less attention that the tsunami did, but the number of people needing help is even greater," said Director of Oxfam Barbara Stocking. "The severity of this crisis means assistance is needed on a huge scale. The British public's generosity has helped pull whole regions back from the brink in the past, we now need their help to do that again.”
Oxfam are highlighting that government aid has not been as substantial as had been expected and that East Africa is now in the middle of a serious food crisis.
Aid specialists say that Nomadic herding communities are most at risk and that many of the animals on which they depend are already dead in some areas. While rain has fallen in some of the worst affected areas this has served to increase the risk of disease and have severely hampered the transportation of relief.
“Oxfam is appealing for the public's help to fund emergency work such as providing food and water, but also to help fund longer term projects so that people can rebuild their lives and avert future crises. This appeal isn't designed to be just a sticking plaster," said Barbara Stocking. "We want to help people across the region to recover and be in a better position when the next crisis hits. With the support of the public, we can work with people to build their futures as well as helping them through the terrible situation they face today."
According to Oxfam, the aid charity is already attempting to help more than 500,000 people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia.
(SP/KMcA)
The charity is asking the British public to give £20 million to fund its work in East Africa, where 11 million people are in urgent need of assistance.
There are already reports of people dying as a result of the crisis and the mortality rate could increase rapidly if sufficient aid is not delivered fast, according to Oxfam's aid workers on the ground.
Although other Oxfam appeals have brought in more than this one's £20 million target, this is the first time Oxfam has gone to the public with such a large request.
"This crisis might be getting less attention that the tsunami did, but the number of people needing help is even greater," said Director of Oxfam Barbara Stocking. "The severity of this crisis means assistance is needed on a huge scale. The British public's generosity has helped pull whole regions back from the brink in the past, we now need their help to do that again.”
Oxfam are highlighting that government aid has not been as substantial as had been expected and that East Africa is now in the middle of a serious food crisis.
Aid specialists say that Nomadic herding communities are most at risk and that many of the animals on which they depend are already dead in some areas. While rain has fallen in some of the worst affected areas this has served to increase the risk of disease and have severely hampered the transportation of relief.
“Oxfam is appealing for the public's help to fund emergency work such as providing food and water, but also to help fund longer term projects so that people can rebuild their lives and avert future crises. This appeal isn't designed to be just a sticking plaster," said Barbara Stocking. "We want to help people across the region to recover and be in a better position when the next crisis hits. With the support of the public, we can work with people to build their futures as well as helping them through the terrible situation they face today."
According to Oxfam, the aid charity is already attempting to help more than 500,000 people in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia.
(SP/KMcA)
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