High food prices and drought are causing the greatest problems for people in Kenya and Ethiopia, says the head of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
“Food prices have doubled in the last year,” said Jim Cornelius, who as of last week was four weeks into a two-month trip to the region. “Everybody is feeling the pressure around food prices. It doesn’t matter who you talk to, that is a pressing issue.”
Drought is particularly bad in the semi arid parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, where it has displaced many of the region’s pastoralists who routinely move their herds in search of feed and water.
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They live in marginal areas with limited rain, even in good years. With no rain, pastoralists have been forced to sell their livestock or buy expensive feed to keep their livestock alive until the next rain.
“They are really, really struggling,” said Cornelius in an interview from Nairobi.
Unlike Canada, the region has no support systems to help farmers through a crisis. When Cornelius watched flood waters wash over Manitoba this spring, Canada’s extensive support network kicked in with aid from governments, insurance companies and other Canadians.
That same system doesn’t exist in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.
“These are people who have very few support systems when things go wrong. There is no crop insurance, no government programs that kick in with the shock of increased prices. There are no bank managers who extend credit to them. It quickly turns to a crisis system when it goes beyond their control,” he said.
“We all need certain safety net systems when circumstances really turn against you. In this case, a combination of drought, together with very high food prices, particularly for the pastoralists, hit with the two difficult factors putting them in a very difficult situation. They are very vulnerable and are always struggling, even in good years.”
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank has committed $6.1 million over the past month to help people suffering in East Africa during the drought.
The latest $2.8 million, announced July 29, will be channeled through its partner organizations and will be used in Ethiopia and Kenya to provide corn, beans, oil and famix, a supplementary food for children younger than five and pregnant and lactating women.
Some of the money from an earlier $3.3 million announcement is being used for a food-for-work program in Kenya to help build sand dams that capture rain usually lost in flash floods.
Cornelius said the goal is not just about keeping people alive but helping maintain their livelihood so that they can get started again when the rain returns.
“We want to try to prevent the stripping away and loss of assets so they can get up on their feet when the rains return. If we get timely support to them, they can retain key livestock.”
A total of $162,000 has been donated to the Foodgrains Bank for East Africa. Donations will be matched four to one by a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency.
Frank Flaman, founder of Flaman Industries, donated $40,000 July 29 through the Mennonite Central Committee for East Africa relief.
“There is so much suffering there,” said Flaman. “Since the government will match it, it is so much better.”
Where To Donate
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
800-665-0377
The Humanitarian Coalition
(CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec, Plan Canada, Save the Children Canada) www.helpforcharities.com
800-464-9154
UN World Food Programme
No Canadian toll-free number
UNICEF Canada
800-567-4483 (Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET)
800-955-3111 (24 hours)
Canadian Red Cross
800-418-1111
Doctors Without Borders
800-982-7903
Mennonite Central Committee
888-622-6337
World Vision Canada
866-595-5550
Christian Children’s Fund
800-263-5437 ext. 610
