Canadian Government Matches Donations for Famine Relief in Africa

The Government of Canada recently announced the launch of the Famine Relief Fund, which will be matching all donations made by Canadians to humanitarian relief organizations such as World Renew that are responding to the famine and widespread food insecurity in countries throughout East, Central and West Africa.

Canadian donations made in response to this crisis between March 17 and June 30 will receive the match.

“Over 20 million men, women and children are at risk of starvation if we do not act now,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, on May 29 when the Canadian Government announced the funding match.

Famine has been declared in several parts of South Sudan, and food insecurity has reached perilous levels in other countries. This is “the worst humanitarian crisis since 1945,” a United Nations official has declared.

“In the midst of a crisis of this scale, it’s easy to lose sight of the human element," says Kenneth Kim, World Renew’s director of Disaster Response and Rehabilitation. “But these people are more than just a number; they are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, each with a unique story.”

In South Sudan, World Renew’s work includes supporting a program that is providing nutritional food supplements to malnourished children. This assistance is reaching 1,000 families with children under five, pregnant or lactating women, or those headed by a single adult or child.

One of these single adults is Sarah, who lived in a small village in South Sudan with her three children until recent outbreaks of violence.

In February, her family was faced with a difficult decision. Fighting had descended upon their small village and it was no longer safe for them to stay.

However, leaving their home meant leaving everything they knew and owned behind. Sarah was forced to choose between risking her family’s safety staying in her village, or walking into a world of uncertainty in hope of finding safety.

Sarah chose to make the difficult journey to a resettlement camp where thousands of other South Sudanese families were also taking refuge from the conflict.

Under the oppressive heat of South Sudan’s hottest month, Sarah and her three children walked 130 kilometers from their home to this camp. The long journey left Sarah’s one-year old daughter, Martha, malnourished.

Shortly after they arrived, Sarah connected with World Renew’s partner in South Sudan. Her daughter was admitted to the feeding program and has received a daily supply of nutrient-rich food supplements designed to help children recover from malnutrition.

In just eight weeks, Martha recovered considerably. Sarah doesn’t know what might have happened to her daughter without this assistance.

Will you join World Renew in assisting family’s such as Sarah’s? To donate, click here.

With the Canadian government’s match of donated funds for famine and drought relief, your donation will now go twice as far.

“Canadians have always demonstrated great compassion when it comes to humanitarian crises,” said Bibeau. “I encourage all Canadians to donate to the registered Canadian charities of their choice. Together, we can make a difference and bring relief to people who need urgent help.”

Meanwhile, World Renew will continue to respond in crisis affected areas in South Sudan, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia.