Catastrophe looms in West Africa as donations dry up

Monday, May 28, 2012

World Vision is facing its greatest fundraising challenge in years as it races to provide aid to some of the 18 million people suffering a food crisis in West Africa.

It is one of the slowest responses to an appeal for emergency funds World Vision Australia has seen. Currently less than $150,000 has been raised for the West Africa food crisis, compared to $6 million raised in last year’s East Africa Emergency Appeal.

The funding shortfall is being felt across the board, with the United Nations and other agencies also expressing a desperate need for funds. The UN says only half of the $1.2 billion needed for food security has been raised. The World Food Programme alone is facing a $360 million shortfall.

World Vision is providing food programmes for acutely malnourished children and delivering food aid to villages, but its efforts are being hampered by the funding shortfall.

World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello said the West Africa food crisis is presenting an enormous challenge to aid agencies.

“We understand compassion fatigue is biting and the developed world faces its own economic woes,” Mr Costello said, “but without Australians once again showing their generosity and kindness, this hungry season could be devastating for millions of people, especially the vulnerable, such as children, pregnant women and the elderly.

“We genuinely are looking at a catastrophic situation if the global community doesn’t act soon.”

Around 2.4 million children are currently being affected by the crisis which has struck Niger, Mali, Chad, Senegal and Mauritania. Aid workers on the ground are warning that the coming weeks will be critical, as rations run dry and people turn to animal feed and wild leaves to survive.

To donate to the West Africa Food Crisis Appeal, go to www.worldvision.com.au or call 13 32 40.

Media contact: Chloe Adams – 0427 413 816 / chloe.adams@worldvision.com.au

Media Releases, Poverty, Famine, Africa, Disaster relief, Famine, Niger, Philanthropy, Tim Costello, United Nations, West Africa Food Crises

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