In northern Kenya, the ground is almost bare except for the occasional shrubs and bones of dead animals according to one local member of ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together). Without water, plants do not grow, animals cannot eat, and the people face hunger and worse.

In June Christian World Service was able to send a small amount to the ACT Alliance Appeal for East Africa. Since then, the situation has worsened but unfortunately the global community has not responded decisively to prevent hunger from spreading.

“ACT Alliance has identified a number of what it calls ‘Forgotten Emergencies’. East Africa is one. Another is Pakistan where your generous donations are supporting the relief programme of Community World Service Asia. I want to encourage people who have a connection with Ethiopia, Kenya or Somalia to consider making a donation to the East Africa Appeal,” says Murray Overton National Director.

Parts of Somaliland and Somalia are on the brink of famine. In Somalia, 7.8 million (nearly half the population) have been affected by drought and more than one million have left their homes in a desperate bid for survival.

Under the Integrated Food Security Phase classification, phase 5 is famine, when at least one in five households face extreme food shortages, and at least 30 per cent of children suffer from acute malnutrition. Each day, at least two out of every 10,000 people die of starvation or malnutrition-related disease.

“Extreme weather events are happening in countries that have contributed little to global warming. CWS is committed to assisting those affected and in lobbying for global action. We are supporting ACT Alliance’s call for Loss and Damage, a payment from the richest countries who have contributed the most to the climate crisis,” Murray adds.

Donations to the East Africa Appeal and the backgrounder on COP27, the global climate talks are available at cws.org.nz