Food Crisis In East Africa - Urgent Appeal

A major food crisis triggered by severe drought and high prices threatens the livelihoods of over 10 million people in East Africa. The most drought hit region includes the areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda and the situation is deteriorating. According to the United Nation reports the region is suffering from worst in 60 years with severe food crisis and high malnutrition rates. Some experts have shown their fears that the current drought is heading toward swear famine in the region.

Somalia is one of the hardest-hit countries in the region, with deaths reported in some areas amid alarming malnutrition levels. It has also been reported that there is high mortality rates among children, the elderly and pregnant mothers. The food is scarce and beyond the affordability levels of the poor. Experts are also warning that the situation could get worse in the short term if the delayed in food aid and poor rains cause the current crop to fail.

In Ethiopia it has been estimated that 3.2 million people are in need of emergency food and non-food assistance. According to the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, a regional forum, the rate of Somali refugees arriving in southern Ethiopia has jumped from 5,000 per month to more than 30,000 in the second week of June.

In Kenya there are at least 3.2 million people who are currently in need of emergency food. Furthermore due to the shortfall of food supply, rising inflation rates have also adversely affected poor households ability to buy food. There is a need to import maize and distribute food and water to the hardest hit areas.

Experts all agree that the current humanitarian disaster facing the East African region is so severe that without the urgent delivery of food, water and other non-food assistance, their is a fear that death rates will increase rapidly and the disaster could spiral out of control leading towards the world's worst disaster ever seen on the planet. The chairman of Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust has appealed to the British community to donate generously to help us to deliver food, water and medicine to the East African region. The chairman has especially urged muslim brothers and sisters in communities across the UK, as well as mosques and other organisations working for the cause of humanity to make a contribution to this unfolding global disaster.

He added that we will knock every single door in Britain to get the help for our African brothers and sisters. He also mentioned that Al-Mustafa will soon set up a relief camp in Somalia and Kenya where free accommodation and food will be provided for 50,000 people. The Director of Communication of Al-Mustafa Welfare Trust has said that they are intending to reach to the Prime Minister of UK and urge him to provide assistance to the East African region.

Al-Mustafa is collecting donations in form of money, food, medicine and cloths. Our target is to deliver at least 5,000 food packs everyday to drought victims of East Africa. The cost of one food pack will be £55, which includes enough food for one family for one day.

Please visit our website to make a donation or give us a call on +44(0)208 569 6444. Don't delay - we need your donations urgently to avert an even bigger crisis!