SCIAF responds to avoidable deaths in the Horn and East of Africa

People queue for food in Mogadishu (Photo: Reuters/Feisal Omar, courtesy Trust.org - Alertnet)

SCIAF has welcomed a new report which finds that inadequate preparation for the drought affecting the Horn and East of Africa has resulted in thousands of avoidable deaths.

Philippa Bonella, SCIAF Head of Communications and Education, said:

"SCIAF has been working with our partners on the ground in the Horn and East of Africa for several years to build long-term resilience to drought and improve the conditions for sufficient levels of food to be grown, again long-term, by people living in the region. Our network of local partners allowed us to begin providing emergency relief as soon as the need was identified in the Borena region of southern Ethiopia. Our response began in December 2010, several months before our emergency funding appeal was launched.

"Work has since expanded into Kenya and Somalia, while in South Sudan, SCIAF and our local partners are providing food, water, medicines and temporary shelters to those affected by the drought as part of our wider programme to assist people now returning to this newly independent country. We will continue to support communities to rebuild their lives as the immediate danger of famine passes and the attention of the world's media moves on. Our focus is on providing a long term and speedy response to need, by developing relationships with local partners.

"Around thirteen million people across the region were hit by the worst drought in 60 years as consecutive seasonal rains have failed, leading to major shortages in food and water, crop failure and the widespread death of livestock. High levels of malnutrition were reported amongst children and hundreds of thousands of people moved away from their homes in search of food, water and shelter. The drought may be over, but people are still dealing with the devastating consequences. SCIAF's appeal in response to the current crisis in the Horn and East of Africa has raised over £1million in donations from the public, parishes and schools in Scotland, including £100,000 funding from the Scottish Government. We believe this demonstrates the ongoing commitment of people in Scotland to stand in solidarity with those in need around the world, even in times of recession.

"The international community must learn lessons from its response to this latest food crisis in the Horn and East of Africa. Such crises could be avoided or mitigated if world governments and institutions were prepared to co-operate and increase the resources available to build resilience to a changing climate, and tackle the unjust structures of trade and debt that continue to keep people in poverty around the world."

SCIAF

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

SCIAF responds to avoidable deaths in the Horn and East of Africa