EAST AFRICA DROUGHT
Emergency Alert Updated - October 21, 2009
You can help
our local partners
provide needed assistance.
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Background:
Continuing drought in East Africa has caused successive crop failures and depletion of livestock herds, creating a wide-spread food crisis and leaving millions vulnerable to hunger.
Kenya is the hardest hit nation, with three consecutive years without sufficient rainfall, leaving 2.5 million people without enough food to eat. That number is likely to rise by the end of the year.
In Uganda drought, along with the practice of exporting food crops, is draining the country’s already overextended food supply.
In Sudan, lack of grazing land and water could re-ignite conflict as resources become severely limited. Erratic rainfall in May and June has impaired the cropping season and delayed planting, leaving many parts of Southern Sudan at risk of widespread hunger at harvest time in November.
Depleted vegetation and dried water reservoirs in Tanzania have put a particular strain on the Tanzanian “breadbasket”—the regions of the country where most food crops are grown. The resulting national food shortages have forced the country to intensify border security to monitor and prevent food exports.
| LWR AND PARTNERS ARE HELPING |
LWR is working with partners on the ground in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan to help families grow food, improve access to water, and protect their land and income for the future. LWR and our partners are:
- Helping farmers plant drought-resistant crops
- Applying improved growing methods to increase crop yields in drought conditions
- Training communities to conserve water
- Helping to dig boreholes and install irrigation systems
- Helping farmers access credit to purchase tools, seeds and fertilizers to grow food
| YOUR HELP URGENTLY NEEDED |
LWR must raise funds now to prevent hunger! Your contribution to the East Africa Drought Fund will help families grow food and cope with prolonged drought conditions.
The best way to assist people caught in an emergency is to give cash so that our partner staff on the ground can be most effective.
To contribute online, click below. You will be given the opportunity to choose “East Africa Drought” for your contribution.
Your gift will be used to respond to the “East Africa Drought” until needs there are met. After that, further gifts will be used to help LWR respond where the need is greatest. Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.
During regular business hours, Monday through Friday, you may also call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2, or mail a check or money order to:
Lutheran World Relief -
East Africa Drought
P.O. Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
USA
INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors: When listing organizations receiving donations for aid to survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:
Lutheran World Relief, www.lwr.org, 1-800-597-5972
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802 (office), 443-220-3269 (cell), esollie@lwr.org
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
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