CCF to Extend Aid in the Horn of Africa

Christian Children's Fund
Tuesday, 19 December 2000

Richmond, VA - Because of the partial failure of the December maize harvest, Christian Children's Fund (CCF) announced today it will extend its food aid program to Kenya through March 2001. It is anticipated that CCF will extend food and medical aid to Ethiopia as well, once the Ethiopian government provides its analysis of Ethiopia's recent harvest.

CCF, one of the world's largest and most respected international child development organizations, committed $2.5 million in food and medical aid to Kenya and Ethiopia earlier this year as famine swept through the Horn of Africa. Kenyans were counting on the December harvest from the October-November short rains to provide them with enough grain to take them through the summer harvest. However, the rains came late and ended too soon.

Charitable organizations such as CCF worry that many people in the developed world may think that famine in the Horn of Africa is a thing of the past. Concern for famine victims heightened in early spring as the drought and the famine in Ethiopia and Kenya were lead stories in the news. The resulting outpouring of concern from the world community averted disaster and the faces of hungry children faded into the background. Nevertheless, the threat of famine persists in the Horn of Africa.

"People may not realize that the drought is still looming in Kenya and Ethiopia, and that the vulnerability of villagers in these countries places them in a precarious situation," noted CCF president John F. Schultz. "The world community needs to stay involved or children will be hungry and thirsty again."

CCF is launching a massive worldwide water effort that will begin with the arrival of a big rig in Kenya in February. Starting in March, the rig, which includes a 70,000 pound REICHdrill, will dig 2 boreholes (deep wells) and three shallow wells a month. During the first year, this water project in Kenya will serve about 250,000 people; over a three year period, it will result in clean, safe water for 500,000 to 600,000 people.

"Because of the importance water plays in the lives of children, CCF is making water one of its primary objectives during the year 2001," noted Schultz. "Of course the availability of safe clean water has some obvious impacts on children such as preventing water borne diseases. But there are the not so obvious impacts. For instance, girls are often assigned the duty of fetching water for the family. If they have to walk miles to a well, the simple act of getting water can consume their whole day and prevent them from going to school."

While CCF frequently assists villages in digging wells, the organization has never made water one of the major focuses of its programs worldwide. "This is a major shift for Christian Children's Fund. We realize that in order to continue our early childhood development programs, educational initiatives, and health programs, we have to get a handle on providing safe, clean water to children. It is essential to the success of our programs to help children," added Schultz.

For more information, or to contact Christian Children's Fund, see their website at: www.christianchildrensfund.org