Famine: pray and give

Feb 13, 2017 by

“Food is a divine gift” – WCC invites global day of prayer to end world famine

As more people face famine today than any time in modern history, the World Council of Churches (WCC) together with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and a range of faith-based partners and networks invite a Global Day of Prayer to End Famine on 21 May 2017, in response to the hunger crisis.

“Famine has been declared in areas of South Sudan, with Somalia, Nigeria, and Yemen on the brink of famine,” WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit says. ”More than 20 million people are at risk of starvation in these four countries alone. And globally, millions more suffer from drought and food shortages. But famines are much more than simple lack of food. They are the result of conflict, drought, poverty and global inaction, and in most cases they are preventable.”

“We believe the churches have a prophetic role in calling to mobilize their members, the wider society and governments, and make a difference during this unprecedented period of suffering,” Tveit adds, reflecting that the Church has a key role to play both in providing emergency relief and support, and in building peace, thus putting an end to the violence and hunger that affects both current and future generations.

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Project Joseph – feeding starving Christians in Uganda and Kenya

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, Barnabas Fund has already sent £631,500 for food aid in Uganda and Kenya. A total of 156,500 people in six regions have been fed so far, including 79,000 South Sudanese refugees who have fled the famine in their homeland.

This has completed the first month of Project Joseph’s aid in East Africa and started the second month.

Families are given maize, beans and cooking oil – basics which are saving lives in this time of terrible drought and repeated crop failure. All the food aid is distributed by local Christian partners, particularly the Church of Uganda, who are working amongst the refugees in Camp Rhino, in northern Uganda, and the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Diocese of Marsabit.

A planned third month of food aid distribution will take Project Joseph up to June, when the harvest is due in Uganda and Kenya. But harvest depends on good rains, which began late in Kenya and have been patchy in Uganda. Even with a good harvest, it takes families two or three years to get back on their feet after having lost all their livestock and any other assets. Health problems due to extended periods of malnutrition also take a long-term toll.

Barnabas Fund is thankful to God for being able to step in and assist our brothers and sisters, but we look to our supporters for the financial resources to continue.

Read more here, including how to donate.  

Also:

“A Mother’s Day filled with fears and blessings”, Blog post about the relief effort in northern Uganda from World Vision

East Africa Crisis Appeal – Tear Fund

Disasters emergency committee makes East Africa appeal, from BBC News

Archbishop of Canterbury warns of crisis in South Sudan as millions face starvation, by James Macintyre, Christian Today

Catholic Bishops urge international aid for South Sudan, by Joseph Hartropp, Christian Today

World Vision warns of millions at risk in East Africa, by Josh Hartropp, Christian Today

 

 

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