CUPE’s National Executive Board has confirmed a donation of $25,000 to Oxfam for the East African Crisis. The donation will go to Oxfam to provide urgently needed relief to the most vulnerable people affected by the drought crisis in East Africa including women, children and the elderly.
“This massive food crisis affects more than 12 million people across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya,” says CUPE National President Paul Moist.
CUPE is asking members to add their support as well. “Support from CUPE members will help reach people in desperate need of clean water, food and basic sanitation,” said Moist.
CUPE members can donate online directly to Oxfam. Oxfam will track these donations. Members can also send a donation directly to: Oxfam Canada, 210–410 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1S8. Please mark your donation Attention: E Africa Crisis Appeal.
“CUPE members have a proud tradition of getting involved when we’re needed and working collectively to make positive change,” says Moist. “Their donations will bring urgent assistance to people suffering from drought and food shortages.”
All monies donated within the next six weeks will be matched dollar for dollar by the Canadian government.
Donations for this crisis to Oxfam are administered by The HUMANITARIAN COALITION, formed by five of Canada’s leading aid organizations: CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada. This network unites in cases of humanitarian crises like the drought in East Africa.
The epicentre of the drought straddles the borders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where families rely heavily on livestock for survival. In some parts of the region, up to 60 percent of the herds have died and the remainder is sick or dangerously underweight. The price of animals has plummeted by half while the cost of cereals has soared. In Somalia the price of a main staple, sorghum, has risen by 240 percent since this time last year.
Malnutrition rates in the region are worse than emergency levels – in some places five times higher than crisis threshold. In Dolo Ado, a camp in southern Ethiopia for Somali refugees, malnutrition rates are the highest recorded in this region since the 1990s.
To find out more: http://www.oxfam.ca
To donate online: http://cupe.ca/east-africa-food-crisis