World Vision UK joins the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal to end famine in East Africa
World Vision UK has joined a multi-agency fundraising appeal to help millions of people on the brink of starvation in East Africa.
More than 16 million people in Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya do not know where their next meal will come from and children are at risk of dying from hunger. World Vision is appealing for immediate funding as a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
£12million has already been raised in less than 24 hours – money that will be used by DEC member charities to reach desperate children and their families.
In total, 22 million people across East Africa are in crisis and need humanitarian assistance. Children are among the worst affected – more than 800,000 under-5s are severely malnourished and at risk of starving to death if they do not receive immediate treatment.
“This is a crisis of unprecedented size for recent times, and we must act now to stop it from escalating,” said Mark Bulpitt, Head of Humanitarian and Resilience at World Vision UK.
It is absolutely vital that agencies on the ground in East Africa are able to scale up their response immediately. The lives of millions of people are at stake.
- Mark Bulpitt, Head of Humanitarian and Resilience at World Vision UK
The DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal launched on Wednesday and will be shown on all major UK Broadcasters including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky.
DEC Chief Executive, Saleh Saeed, said: “Hunger on a massive scale is looming across East Africa. More than 800,000 children under five are severely malnourished. Without urgent treatment, they are at risk of starving to death.
“We are hearing that families are so desperate for food that they are resorting to eating leaves to survive. This is something no family should have to endure.
“Unless we act now the number of deaths will drastically increase. Don’t delay – please donate.”
World Vision is already on the ground delivering life-saving aid, such as food, treatment for malnutrition and clean drinking water. We are ready to scale-up humanitarian support, but urgently need more funding to reach the millions of people in desperate need.