Clifton Diocese raises £30,000 for the Niger food crisis
People in the Clifton Diocese have so far raised £30,000 for Catholic
relief agency, CAFOD, to help ease the grave food crisis affecting the
people of Niger.
The Catholic community has delved deep into their pockets in response to the Niger crisis. This money will go directly to aid agency CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), whose partners working in Niger and neighbouring Burkina Faso will use it to feed and support the most vulnerable families and communities.
Niger is facing one of the worst hunger crises in its history, following severe drought and the country’s worst locust invasion in 15 years. More than 2.5 million people are at risk of starvation, malnutrition and disease. While Burkina Faso has managed to avoid a similar wide-scale food crisis, pockets of serious food shortages have been identified throughout the country.
CAFOD South West Regional Organiser, Tony Vassallo, said, “The Catholic community in the Clifton Diocese wanted to show their support with those in most need. Niger might be millions of miles away from our lives here but they felt that they had to do something. Raising this money is one way of sharing and showing solidarity with the poor.
“The money will go directly to CAFOD partners, Caritas Niger, Caritas Burkina Faso and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). As well as distributing food to those most in need, these organisations are implementing food-for-work programmes that enable those who can work to earn food for their families. The money will also be spent on preventive malnutrition programmes aimed at the elderly, sick, pregnant women and young children as well as ensuring health centres are regularly supplied with appropriate medicines and food rations.
“CAFOD and its partners have been monitoring the situation for several months. We will remain in close contact and ensure that support is provided long after the immediate emergency has abated.”
To date, the Catholic Community in England and Wales has raised half a million pounds through CAFOD for the Niger crisis.
Caritas Niger recently reported that the food situation in Niger remains extremely critical. Many households are now surviving on just one meal a day and the situation is made worse by the inflated price of grain. Upwards of 5,000 children are currently suffering from malnutrition and aid agencies are reporting that 10-15 children are dying every week.
Claire Kirk
Useful URL : http://www.cafod.org.uk
The Catholic community has delved deep into their pockets in response to the Niger crisis. This money will go directly to aid agency CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), whose partners working in Niger and neighbouring Burkina Faso will use it to feed and support the most vulnerable families and communities.
Niger is facing one of the worst hunger crises in its history, following severe drought and the country’s worst locust invasion in 15 years. More than 2.5 million people are at risk of starvation, malnutrition and disease. While Burkina Faso has managed to avoid a similar wide-scale food crisis, pockets of serious food shortages have been identified throughout the country.
CAFOD South West Regional Organiser, Tony Vassallo, said, “The Catholic community in the Clifton Diocese wanted to show their support with those in most need. Niger might be millions of miles away from our lives here but they felt that they had to do something. Raising this money is one way of sharing and showing solidarity with the poor.
“The money will go directly to CAFOD partners, Caritas Niger, Caritas Burkina Faso and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). As well as distributing food to those most in need, these organisations are implementing food-for-work programmes that enable those who can work to earn food for their families. The money will also be spent on preventive malnutrition programmes aimed at the elderly, sick, pregnant women and young children as well as ensuring health centres are regularly supplied with appropriate medicines and food rations.
“CAFOD and its partners have been monitoring the situation for several months. We will remain in close contact and ensure that support is provided long after the immediate emergency has abated.”
To date, the Catholic Community in England and Wales has raised half a million pounds through CAFOD for the Niger crisis.
Caritas Niger recently reported that the food situation in Niger remains extremely critical. Many households are now surviving on just one meal a day and the situation is made worse by the inflated price of grain. Upwards of 5,000 children are currently suffering from malnutrition and aid agencies are reporting that 10-15 children are dying every week.
Claire Kirk
Useful URL : http://www.cafod.org.uk
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