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2. Africa
3. Today
OK guys! You’re exhausted! Study. Been to the gym. Boss kept you back late. Too busy. Got compassion fatigue. One tsunami too many! We’re all feeling it. But, guess what, we need to extend ourselves today. Every tiny bit adds up. Put aside $5/$10… or more… and click here to donate.
Images of suffering in Africa are undoubtedly reoccurring motifs in the media. So why is the current situation in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia different you may ask?
The UN uses a five-stage scale to assess a country’s food security. A situation reaches stage five- famine/humanitarian catastrophe- when malnutrition rates climb higher than 30 percent. Extreme poverty, political unrest, violent conflict and the harshest drought in 60 years, are all contributing factors making the current food crisis so dire, affecting approx. 12.4 million people. That’s more than half of Australia’s population!
Numbers of Somalis seeking refuge in neighbouring countries currently exceeds 600,000 with 3.6 million internally displaced. Children and babies make up a large proportion of this figure, truly making this the worst sight in the world. A similar flow of refugees is being seen in Ethiopia, with 1 in 3 new arrivals acutely malnourished.
Speaking of Australia's population, you've been doing some fantastic stuff in regards to East Africa. Last week, we told you about Exchange for Change that ran during Humanitarian Week at Sydney University. All pennies raised by the Oxfam Sydney Uni group is going to East Africa.
On Friday, the African Students Association at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are holding a BBQ to raise funds for the Horn of Africa. So if any New South (or non-New South) Welshman have any loose change and are keen for a sausage sizzle, check it out on Friday from midday 'til 4pm.
Living comfortably in Australia, it’s hard to comprehend such a tragedy. Don't forget to keep sharing your ideas of how we can help out.
Image by Andy Hall for Oxfam East Africa. Some rights reserved.
Video by Africans Act 4 Africa - Tanzania. Some rights reserved.
