Red Cross hails Irish generosity as Africa appeal is launched
The generosity of Irish citizens is extraordinary, a leading aid agency revealed today.
The Irish Red Cross, which is funding major life saving projects in the drought stricken countries of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, has called for long term initiatives to secure a future for the millions living in deprivation.
The east and Horn of Africa suffered a severe drought from the end of 2005 through to the first quarter of 2006, with the Irish Government already committing €7m to its appeal.
The NGO’s chairman David Andrews, who last month travelled to Kenya to see first hand the agencies response to the crisis, said the support of the nation is extraordinary compared to charity fatigue experienced worldwide.
Blaming drought, food security and tribal conflict for current crisis, he said the people of Kenya were strong, articulate people who needed continued help to build a future, and not just short term aid.
He described seeing heaps of dead cattle, with livelihoods lost and visiting one area with just one small clinic and a nurse to cover a population of 49,000.
“Men, women and children are dehydrated,” he said. “People remain dependant on food for aid for their survival.
“Funding and resources for post emergency and longer-term projects in water, sanitation, health, livestock restocking, and veterinary services are absolutely critical if these communities are to be given any chance of recovery.
“Failure to invest now will lead to more costly and expensive emergency responses in the future.”
Noel Wardick, the NGO’s head of international department, visited Ethiopia where the conditions were ’appalling.’ He said despite recent heavy rainfalls, the crisis was by no means near its end.
“We are calling for a medium to long term sustained investment and resources in this area,” he said. “These people are becoming poorer and poorer year on year. People are completely unable to cope.”
Findings from the trip were reported to Minister of State Conor Lenihan at Iveagh House, who called for all non EU and US countries to contribute to the aid needed in Africa.
“It is a huge concern to everybody in the aid community that this situation is continuing,” said the minister,
“There are a number of countries, in Africa in particular, that are challenged by hunger and food security. We will continue to help and assist in terms of emergency investment, but what is needed is a much more comprehensive response.
“We need to deal with situations of conflict in a region and deal with the food security issue by ensuring the proper drought resistant crops are being planted in the region. It is very expensive, but every dollar spent preventing famine and pre-empting a crisis saves seven dollars in emergency response.”
