In 2011, we witnessed the unfolding of a severe food and nutrition crisis in East Africa. Failing rains struck the Horn of Africa, and the region experienced its driest period in 60 years.

A combination of relentless drought, massively inflated food prices and conflict in some areas lead to one of the worst humanitarian crisis on record. Countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Somalia were affected, with children and families struggling to access food, clean water and healthcare. By July 2011, famine had been declared in multiple regions in Somalia.

World Vision put a call out to the Australian community, launching the East Africa Emergency Appeal.

Many responded, individually, as well as through their church community. World Vision’s Red Button Emergency Appeals (where churches partner through prayer and fundraising during times of emergency and disaster) proved a successful way to get the word out.

A special mention must go to partner church St Andrews Anglican Church in Roseville, New South Wales. The St Andrews community showed great generosity, raising over $58,000 in much-needed funds. To find out how your church can get involved, click here.

In October, the Australian Government announced they would match all individual Australian donations Dollar for Dollar until the end of November 2011. This period attracted $1.7 million, bringing total donations to World Vision to $5.5 million by the end of the year.

These funds have been used to help more than 2.5 million East African children and families. These relief efforts – made possible by caring Australians like you – included:

• general food distribution
• providing vitamin-rich, ready-to-eat meals for malnourished children and nursing mother
• immunisation and efforts to prevent malaria and other diseases
• trucking water into communities and schools, cleaning shallow wells and rehabilitating boreholes
• vaccinations and other measures to protect cattle and other livestockproviding seeds for planting prior to the next rainy season

On behalf of the children and families in East Africa, whom you have helped provide hope and life-saving assistance to during their time of great need – thank you, your support is deeply appreciated.

With the help of the global community, the crisis in East Africa is now stabilising. However it is far from over. Help is still needed; learn more about what World Vision is doing in the Horn of Africa or donate to our East Africa Emergency Appeal.