How is CLWR assisting with East Africa famine and drought relief?
1. CLWR is distributing over $1.5 million of food (1,900 tons) in Ethiopia in partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Lutheran World Federation-Department for World Service Ethiopia
This large-scale emergency food aid project is responding to immediate needs for relief in the drought-stricken district of Goro, a district in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Over 18,000 people will benefit from the distribution of over 1,900 tons of food, which will be distributed between June and October 2011.
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An adult helps an infant drink water in Borena, Ethiopia ACT/DCA/Binyan Mengesha |
The food includes over 650 tons of wheat, 165 tons of beans, over 57 tons of famix (a supplementary food) and over 49 tons of oil. It will be distributed freely and through food for work programs and will help sustain the assets and livelihoods of households affected by the failed rain (communities often are forced to sell off their cattle and tools to survive droughts).
2. CLWR supports refugee camps hosting Somalis fleeing famine and insecurity
CLWR is an ongoing partner and financial supporter of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and its Department for World Service (DWS) programs. The LWF-DWS–Kenya/Djibouti program manages the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya on behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world, is currently hosting approximately 388,000 people (as of July 17), most of them Somali refugees escaping war, insecurity, and now a severe drought that has destroyed harvests and killed livestock. Approximately 1,300 people arrive at the camp per day, many suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, and exhaustion — and that number is expected to rise.
Camp interventions LWF are involved in include the distribution of nine tons of flour mix for supplementary feeding of children and elderly who have been identified as too weak to eat dry food, the distribution of clothes, slippers and sanitary wear for women, and regular water deliveries using a 7,000-litre truck.
The LWF is also looking at addressing new arrivals coming in through border entry points and providing humanitarian assistance to those traveling the 90km between Dadaab and the Kenya-Somalia border.
3. CLWR has worked in Africa for years on food and water security projects and will continue to work toward sustainability in the region
CLWR’s five year development goal in its Africa programs is to provide safe water supply, storage capacity and/or irrigation to 156 communities in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Zambia.
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A Somali woman reaches Ethiopia after a five-day walk. ACT/NCA/Laurie MacGregor |
In the last year, we’ve helped 78 communities get new or improved sources of clean, safe water; trained 9,928 households in the safe use and storage of water; trained 5,065 farmers in sustainable agriculture; supported 1,838 farmers with inputs like tools, goats, chickens, seeds, and storage; and trained 440 farmers in livestock management.
CLWR’s development projects promote self-sufficiency and sustainable practices in the communities involved. Training, education, and institutional strengthening all help to mitigate the effects of crises such as drought and famine by building food and water security that lasts. CLWR’s development work is ongoing and funds donated to development are matched by the Canadian International Development Agency—sometimes up to two to three times the original donation.
How to help
See our Emergency Appeal
Background on CLWR's ongoing development work in Africa
