"Never again!" That is what the western world said, after the terrible 1984/5 famine in Ethiopia. But in July 2011, the UN declared famine in two parts of southern Somalia, as the Horn of Africa suffers its worst drought in 50 years.
To help WorldShare's local partners get food to people facing starvation now, scroll to the bottom of the page.
NEW August 15th, 2011 View slideshow of aid distribution by our partners
As these photos show, your generous donations to WorldShare's appeal are already making a difference to the lives of people in need in the Garissa Tana River and Wajir regions.
One woman who benefited said to our contact there: "I cannot believe that we have been remembered. Some people outside there heard that we are in need and sent help to us? God truly sees our plight!"
Update No. 1 - July 20th, 2011
BACKGROUND TO HORN OF AFRICA FOOD CRISIS, & APPEAL DETAILS
Critical food shortages and severe hunger are happening again across the Horn of Africa. Ten million people are at risk of starvation because of the failure of last winter's rains and the subsequent poor rains this past spring.
"This is the most severe food security emergency in the world today, and the current humanitarian response is inadequate to prevent further deterioration." (Famine Early Warning Systems Network)
Our television screens are once more being filled with the harrowing images of starving and sick girls and boys, women and men.
We thought after the events of 25 years ago, that children suffering from malnutrition or dying from lack of food, would and should never happen again.
But this is the present reality - and WorldShare is in position to help right now. We have many years' experience of food security projects around the world.
Now, in the Horn of Africa, we'll be working together with our Partnership Alliance affiliates to channel your compassionate help through an established regional ministry partner, Mchungaji Kundi Moja (MKM), and other local partners working in the heart of the crisis area.
We have already sent initial emergency funds. Now, we are appealing to our supporters for additional gifts - large or small - to get food and water to people at risk of starvation, and help save as many lives as possible.
"What will my donation help achieve?"
With focus on a part of Kenya into which many refugees are pouring, your gift will help our local partners' intervention strategies, including:-
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provision of famine survival kits to over 2,000 families
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provision of Unimix (enriched maize and bean flour used to fight malnutrition) to 2000 children, plus medicines to hundreds of children under 5 years of age
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dig bore holes in order to increase water supplies for people and livestock.
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