Andy Drozdziak
CAFOD, the Church’s overseas aid and development charity, is warning that ‘millions’ will die of starvation in East Africa unless immediate action is taken.
CAFOD warns that up to 20 million people are fighting for their lives in Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan, due to high food costs and severe drought.
“If we don’t come together and act now, millions of women, men and children could die,” the charity warned.
“A terrifying drought, rocketing food prices and the devastation of a massive locust infestation have caused a terrifying food crisis.”
CAFOD outlined the scale of the problem. “Millions of families are facing a food crisis that could be worse than any we’ve lived through. The threat of extreme hunger is forcing people to spend their life-savings or leave their homes,” CAFOD said.
“This is not normal – no one facing this kind of hunger could ever claim it was normal.”
The people themselves are now close to starving to death, caused by a ‘perfect storm’ of various difficulties, CAFOD said.
“The lasting effects of Covid-19, plus the inflation caused by the conflict in Ukraine, mean basic necessities are becoming unaffordable,” CAFOD explained.
“And the extreme weather, caused by the climate crisis, has made food extremely challenging to grow and water hard to come by.”
Archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya, Philip Anyolo, says that malnutrition levels have risen and millions of people are now in need of assistance. He told the international community that “it is the Gospel mandate to respond.”
Communities in northern Kenya have been stretched beyond breaking point. Between October 2021 and March 2022, 1.5 million cattle and sheep died. For pastoralists, livestock are akin to a savings account – to see animals die is the equivalent of having life savings wiped out.
Although the Catholic bishops of Kenya have launched their own appeal, they are concerned at the lack of interest from the international community.
Father Ferdinand Lugonzo, General Secretary of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, is appealing for more support, in the spirit of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ key document on the environment and climate change.
“The Church is present,” he said. “We bring out the facts to be the voice of the voiceless. This is bringing Laudato Si to life. We will do our part. I just appeal for you to donate as much as you can.”
CAFOD has been working alongside communities across Kenya for over 30 years to help them cope better with emergencies – including three years of drought before the current one. This crisis is considered so severe that people and communities are under threat.
“Our local Church aid workers are already on the front line of the food crisis in the Horn of Africa region, getting emergency food supplies and clean water to vulnerable families in need,” the charity said. “This crisis is severe – and it is going to take commitment and dedication to help as many people affected as possible, and to keep supporting them as they recover and rebuild.”
CAFOD acknowledged that the appeal is coming at a perilous financial moment-including for those in the UK, with energy regulator Ofgem warning on Thursday that customers face a “very challenging winter ahead” after further energy price increases.
“Our global food system is at breaking point. All around the world – including here, in the UK – families are finding it harder than ever to put food on the table,” CAFOD said.
“As Catholics, we are called to care for the world’s most vulnerable people and it is this commitment to our global family in times of crisis that is the true mark of our faith.”
Examples of the support offered by CAFOD include helping to provide food, growing crops which are more resistant to drought, and mending and providing water pumps.
The Catholic bishops of England and Wales are supporting the CAFOD appeal, featuring its details on their website and calling on Catholics to ‘help fight the causes of hunger longer term.’
“With your help today, the teams of local volunteers and experts we work with in Ethiopia, in East Africa and around the world, can help people to live through the worst of this devastating food crisis,” CAFOD said.
Picture: A woman forced to flee her home because of drought is pictured outside her tent in Qurdubay camp near Dolow, Somalia. Somalia’s apostolic administrator says he hopes the country’s new president will unite the country and help it beat the ongoing drought and potential famine. (CNS photo/Miriam Donohoe, Trócaire)