Amra

R EAST AFRICA´S FOOD CRYSISCOUNTRY BY COUNTRY Young people in our country can not imagine what it means to starve. We have almost everything we want. Being poor for us it means not having the newest computer or a new car. Most of us live in warm houses or apartments, we have loving parents, who go to work every day to provide us everything we need. We go to school every day, where we sit in nice classrooms and we study for a life to come. Our biggest problem is a bad grade or not getting a new telephone. For most of us anyway. But not everyone is so fortunate. Millions of children (and adults) all over the world are starving. Their everyday problem is how to feed themselves and their family. They dont have enough food, clean water, place to live, clothes to ware. And theese are the real problems. A lot (or probably the most) starving people are in Africa. A lot of countries in Africa are undeveloped, in war, people are not educated, thereefor a lot of desasses are killing people. Let me tell you something about a few of them.

Ethiopia Population: 73.1 million The chronic food crisis in Ethiopia results from drought, environmental degradation and a low availability of food resources. The crisis was recently worsened because of a huge influx of livestock from drought-stricken northeastern Kenya and southwestern Somalia. In addition, the prevalence of HIV infection is increasingly affecting food security in this East African nation, which is one of the world's least developed countries. World Vision is supplying emergency food aid, farming assistance, water, sanitation support and health and nutrition training in all areas of the country where its programs are operational. Plans are to assist other seriously affected regions of the country as well.

Kenya Population: 33.8 million The hunger crisis in Kenya is the result of multiple factors, including widespread poverty, stunted economic growth, a drought-prone climate and a burgeoning population-including some 250,000 refugees, mainly from Sudan and Somalia. Successive droughts and the failure of last fall's short rains have severely affected livelihoods in the northern and eastern rural regions. In addition, food security is impacted by a very high prevalence of HIV and AIDS in western Kenya and the slums of Nairobi.World Vision is currently the lead relief agency in four Kenyan districts, assisting more than 250,000 people suffering food shortages. The organization has already distributed thousands of tons of food from the World Food Program to communities in desperate need. Along with this continuing response, World Vision is supplying water, sanitation support and health and nutrition assistance. It is also supporting food-for-work and supplementary feeding programs.

Tanzania Population: 36.8 million

Below-average rainfall in Tanzania has left the country's agricultural sector struggling. Short rains typically begin at the end of November, but this year, November and December were mostly dry. According to the Tanzanian government, some 613,000 people in 10 regions across the country face acute food shortages. More than half of World Vision's 67 development programs in the Central and Lake regions are severely affected by the current food crisis.World Vision is establishing a three-month emergency feeding program in all of the severely drought-affected regions in which it works. Affected families are receiving cereals to help alleviate children's hunger. They are also receiving agricultural support to help improve their food security.

Somalia Population: 8.6 million According to the World Food Program, Somalia's food crisis has resulted from years of political instability combined with prolonged droughts and sub-average rains over the past four years. Severe environmental degradation is an ongoing problem; in many parts of the country, herdsmen have lost 50 percent or more of their livestock. It is estimated that almost three of every four people in Somalia are malnourished.World Vision is supporting emergency food distribution and supplementary feeding and nutrition programs in Somalia, as well as providing water and sanitation support to approximately 184,000 people. Food distributions have begun in Bu'alle, where 1,700 metric tons of food from the World Food Program was recently distributed in four days.

Uganda Population: 27.3 million The food crisis in Uganda is aggravated by drought, a high prevalence of HIV infection and a long-running guerrilla war in the northern part of the country. Despite fertile soil and favorable weather, more than half the population has inadequate food and lives in abject poverty.World Vision, in partnership with the World Food Program, is distributing food at dozens of camps for internally displaced people in the conflictridden Padur, Gulu, Kitgum and Lira districts. It is also distributing goats and other support to HIV- and AIDS-affected households in Gulu.

Niger Population: 11.7 million Niger is one of the poorest, and hottest, countries in the world. Ninety percent of the population is engaged in agriculture, but the scorching climate and arid landscape make consistent crop growth difficult. Adding to the challenge is the frequent occurrence of droughts.World Vision has begun large-scale relief in all areas of Niger in which it works, providing food to thousands affected by the food shortage. In addition, a food security program offered by the organization aims to ensure that all have access to sufficient amounts of nutritious food.

Sudan Population: 40.2 million Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars for most of the second half of the 20th century. In 2003, a separate conflict erupted in the western region of Darfur. This conflict, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of nearly

two million people, continues today. The crisis is complicated by large numbers of refugees from neighboring countries (primarily Chad and Ethiopia), poor transport infrastructure and internal challenges that hamper the provision of humanitarian relief to desperate people. World Vision operates food security and livelihood programs in southern Sudan, ranging from seed and tools distribution, to introducing new farming technologies and practices as well as market development support. Thousands of people in South Darfur have received World Vision food aid. This year, the organization is expanding its assistance to include recovery, rehabilitation and development services such as food-for-work and school feeding programs.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Population: 60 million Armed conflict amongst tribes, rebels and militia continues in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), embroiling the neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. This persistent insecurity is the greatest threat to economic development and the improvement of food security. Widespread poverty manifests itself in a lack of basic education, health and social services. More than 1 million people in the DRC are living with AIDS.World Vision is responding to desperate needs in North Kivu, a province in eastern DRC that has seen significant violence as well as a massive influx of displaced people from the even more volatile Ituri region. World Vision's work in this area is addressing the critical needs for clean water and nutritious food.

Zimbabwe Population: 12.7 million Zimbabwe's food crisis is complicated by an economic downturn, a high prevalence of HIV infection and a history of erratic rainfall. According to the World Food Program, the country produced insufficient food in 2005 to feed its citizens and is economically unable to import enough to keep people from starving. Through its agricultural recovery program, World Vision distributes seeds and fertilizer to vulnerable households. Feeding programs are now implemented in 100 schools, complementing existing supplementary feeding programs in the communities where World Vision works.

I think, there is not a easy way to solve this problems, but at least we can try. By educating people, helping them to learn to take care of themselves, to learn new technologies for farming and agryculture. Buta t first we must help them, so they can help themselves. Everyone of us can do a small thing. It matters.

Amra Begovič