CBM Ireland Responds to Food Crisis in Horn of Africa

25 Jul 2011

Somali women displaced by severe drought conditions queue to get food handouts at a centre operated by the government and local NGOs, south of Mogadishu July 7, 2011 - Reuters/Omar, courtesy Trust.org - AlertNet

CBM Ireland has today launched an emergency response to assist people with disabilities affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

A severe lack of rainfall throughout the region has decimated crops and livestock, causing thousands of families to flee their communities in search of food and clean water.

"The most vulnerable at this time are people with disabilities," said CBM Ireland Director, David McAllister.

"They are the first to be forgotten but last in line to receive food and water. We can safely assume that with nearly 11 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance, at least 15% will be living with a disability."

Thousands of refugees are flooding into Kenya from southern Ethiopia and Somalia at an unprecedented rate. It is expected that almost half the children arriving into Kenya are severely malnourished and the numbers in need of emergency assistance and aid is expected to rise.

"Along with the weather and diminishing rainfall, the increase in local food prices has worsened the food crisis," he said.

CBM Ireland is part of an international development organisation which is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities in the poorest countries in the world.

"To extend the relief efforts to the most vulnerable, CBM is supporting a number of our partners who are working closely with persons with disabilities. We are also teaming up with other mainstream relief organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross to ensure people with disabilities have access to food, clean water, disability services and technical support," Mr. McAllister concluded.

For more information on CBM Ireland log on to www.cbm.ie or freephone 1800 225 225.

Further Information
Ronan Cavanagh, Montague Communications: (01) 830 3116 or (086) 317 9731.