Responding to Disasters Such as Horn of Africa Famine

[John Becker]

Hi SOIL. Recently I helped a few like minded organizations meet in Nairobi to work towards a sustainable, locally led, collaborative effort to respond holistically to the current famine in the Horn of Africa. This effort is just a small part of a much bigger effort that is underway. However, the need is huge and begs all of us Jesus followers to care and respond. One thing you can do is to sign the One Campaign's petition to world leaders.  Read it below and also the attachment which gives excellent guidelines for and reasons why we should respond to disaster. MN%20Disaster%20Management_We%20Believe%20Statement_Sept%202008.pdf

 

Subject: Please take action to end famine

Dear (everyone I know),

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch ONE’s new video “The F Word: Famine is the Real Obscenity” and sign the petition to world leaders.
http://act.one.org/sign/hungry_no_more/?referring_akid=.1094054.Dbq9H3

The reasons for the famine in the Horn of Africa are complex and solutions are difficult, especially in Somalia, but we can’t lose sight of some simple facts:

1. 30,000 children have died in just 3 months. Thirty thousand. With over 12 million people at risk.

2. Famine is not a natural catastrophe – drought doesn’t have to lead to famine. It can be prevented, as we’ve seen in much of Kenya and Ethiopia.

In the 21st century, it’s an obscenity that people are dying because they can’t get enough food to eat. Every one of those 30,000 children is part of a family – a son, a daughter, sister or brother. We can’t imagine what it must be like to starve to death, but most of us know what it’s like to lose someone we love.

Please watch the film and make use of the voice you have -- sign the petition.

http://act.one.org/sign/hungry_no_more/?referring_akid=.1094054.Dbq9H3

It will make a difference in putting pressure on world leaders to do more to help those in need right now, and live up to promises already made to invest in the things proven to work – early warning systems...irrigation...drought resistant seeds… and of course, peace and security.

Thanks!