NEWS STORY: Religious Relief Groups Warn of Looming Ethiopian Famine

c. 2003 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ Religious relief and aid organizations warned Tuesday (March 18) that Ethiopia is again on the brink of famine and called for greater funding and attention for the African country and its neighbors. “More people are affected by this food shortage than in 1984, when 1 million lives were […]

c. 2003 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ Religious relief and aid organizations warned Tuesday (March 18) that Ethiopia is again on the brink of famine and called for greater funding and attention for the African country and its neighbors.

“More people are affected by this food shortage than in 1984, when 1 million lives were lost,” said Ken Hackett, executive director of Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, who appeared at a news conference Tuesday with executives of Lutheran World Relief and Africare.


On the same day, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to help the east African nation by providing special food supplies for its malnourished residents.

“Virtually unnoticed amidst the headlines of the day is the fact that millions of Ethiopians, many of them children and the elderly, are suffering from localized famine conditions caused by severe drought,” the LDS Church said in a statement.

A church-chartered plane delivered 40 tons of a porridge mixture that will help the malnourished who are able to eat only easily digestible foods. That initial shipment will be followed by others.

The call for increased funding follows a March 11-15 trip to Ethiopia by a delegation including representatives of Catholic Relief Services, Lutheran World Relief and Africare. They have asked members of Congress to support $350 million in additional food and nonfood aid from the U.S. government for Ethiopia and other countries affected by drought.

“The aid pipeline is not secure,” said Kathryn Wolford, president of the Baltimore-based Lutheran World Relief. “Food reserves will be depleted by April and pledges of food beyond mid-year are uncertain.”

Officials of the groups said their concerns extend beyond the need for emergency aid.

While the U.S. government allocated $200 million for emergency assistance to the country last year, $4 million was contributed for development assistance, they said.

“This proportion has to be reversed,” said Julius E. Coles, president of Washington-based Africare, one of the largest African-American organizations specializing in African aid.


The previous season’s lack of rain has prevented irrigation of crops in Ethiopia and prompted the loss of many farmers’ harvests. The natural factors have been exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic that has struck the continent.

When famine hit Ethiopia in the mid-1980s, it prompted worldwide interest and response, from musical campaigns to other fund-raising efforts. But the conflict with Iraq has focused attention elsewhere. Despite that, relief agency heads said the food crisis in Africa needs to be heeded.

“Will we all be too distracted by other news to respond at all?” asked Wolford. “As faith-based agencies, we have no choice but to raise the issue of Ethiopia now.”

Here is contact information for contributions to the hunger crisis:

Catholic Relief Services

“Africa Hunger Crisis”

P.O. Box 17090

Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

800-736-3467

http://www.catholicrelief.org

Lutheran World Relief

“Africa Food Crisis”

P.O. Box 17061

Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

800-597-5972

http://www.lwr.org

Africare

440 R St., NW

Washington, DC 20001-1935

202-462-3614

http://www.africare.org

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