Media Statement, 3rd March 2006

GOAL has launched a drought appeal for Africa, where as many as 20 million people are threatened with starvation.

A combination of prolonged drought, the death of livestock, failing crops and conflict, have significantly contributed to soaring malnutrition rates in several countries, where across the African continent as many as 20 million people are threatened with starvation. Conditions are set to worsen as the peak hunger season gets underway.

In Kenya alone, 3.5 million people are in urgent need of food aid, and following GOAL’s assessment of emergency needs, we are purchasing essential food for distribution to vulnerable families and children in northern Kenya’s Turkana region. Working with a missionary organisation, the GOAL Kenya team is providing more than 10,000 malnourished children with high-calorie food, and families will receive a monthly food ration during this ‘hunger period’, before the next harvest is due.

“The main priority is to avoid any further loss of life,” says GOAL’s John O’Shea. “Food aid doesn’t always reach those most in need and food shortages are expected to worsen.”

“GOAL’s programme will reach people who have not been receiving food aid through government distributions or from other NGOs in the region. These are the most vulnerable, often too weak to reach food distribution centres.”

The humanitarian situation in south-eastern Ethiopia also continues to deteriorate, with increasing livestock deaths, serious shortages of water and high levels of malnutrition. It is estimated that 1.5 million people are in need of urgent food aid, and GOAL is implementing emergency nutrition programmes in response to this.

GOAL is also responding to famine in Niger and chronic food shortages in northern Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Sudan.