East Africa Hunger Crisis
As the summer draws to a close, and we reflect on what has been for many a very difficult and uncertain few months, it is starker now than ever that we live in a world that is deeply unfair. Millions of people around the world are going to bed hungry whilst profits for private companies boom.
Today, after the worst drought in 40 years, millions of children across East Africa are at risk of starvation, with 23 million people facing life-threatening hunger and malnutrition.
15-year-old Suldana, has lived with her family in a makeshift settlement in Doolow, southern Somalia for four months. Suldana and her family moved here with the hope of finding assistance after losing all their livestock to the drought. Her father is visually impaired so Suldana has had to take up some of the responsibility of finding food for the family. Daily, she goes to Doolow town to find work, mostly washing dishes, where she earns 50 Somali Birs (about one US dollar) to help the family buy food. As the food crisis driven by the drought and high food prices increases, Suldana and her siblings often eat just one meal a day.
It can be hard not to despair when faced with such huge global challenges, and when faced with the reality of children like Suldana’s situation. But I find it encouraging in hard times that the Bible is clear that God’s heart still breaks for the poor and those who are suffering. The Bible also encourages us as Jesus’ followers to act! 1 John 3:17-18 teaches:
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
To God, children like Suldana are not a statistic, He cares deeply about her individually. And so should we. But more than that, 1 John 3:17-18 emphasizes that when we see someone in need, we should move beyond empathy to live out our love for God through our actions. This can look different at different stages of our lives and there are many ways we can stand in solidarity with those facing crises around the world: signing petitions, writing to our local MPs, and praying for those most affected.
In August, alongside other NGOs, World Vison UK launched a campaign focused on the East Africa Hunger Crisis. The UK Government has pledged to ‘spare no effort’ to protect the most vulnerable. However further action is urgently needed to save lives now for those facing the threat of hunger and famine and prevent future disasters. At World Vision we have seen that when hunger grows, so do other dangerous issues like sexual violence, conflict, and child labour.
The UK Government must act with urgency to speed up the process to deliver the funding that has already been promised and reverse cuts to international aid and ensure all humanitarian and development funding supports local actors who are best placed to respond quickly.
Longer term, we must also tackle the impact of the climate crisis on global hunger by delivering on our climate finance promises, including new money for loss and damage.
Preventing famine in East Africa is possible, and the UK Government can make a significant difference if they act now. The UK Government has a responsibility to East Africa’s children and their communities, but every day that we delay will make it more difficult to avoid tragedy.
We would love for you to show your support for our brothers and sisters in East Africa by signing our petition and adding your voice to the growing number of people who want to see this disaster averted.
Please pray for those who are already facing life-threatening hunger and malnutrition right now in East Africa, and please pray for our government here in the UK that they will take urgent action. And please pray for more people to join with this campaign so that we can stop famine in East Africa, now and in years to come.
Abby Jones Policy and Communications Officer abigail.jones@worldvision.org.uk