Oxfam launches urgent appeal for over 38 million people facing starvation and famine
- Agency warns that hunger and deaths will rise if aid does not reach countries in need, including South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia
- Famine likely to be declared in Yemen and Somalia in the coming months
- In East Africa, 19 million people are on the brink of starvation due to conflict and drought
Wednesday 13 March 2017
Oxfam Ireland has launched an urgent public appeal in response to unprecedented levels of hunger and famine affecting more than 38 million people across six countries – more people than six times the entire population of the island of Ireland.
CONTACT: Oxfam spokespeople, including from East Africa, Nigeria and Yemen, are available for interview. To arrange an interview or for more information, please contact:
Alice Dawson on 083 198 1869 / alice.dawson@oxfamireland.org
Phillip Graham on 07841 102535 / phillip.graham@oxfamireland.org
Notes to the Editor:
FOOD CRISIS IN NUMBERS:
SOUTH SUDAN 4.9 million people between “crisis” levels of hunger and famine
YEMEN 7-10m between “crisis” or “emergency” levels of hunger
SOMALIA Nearly 3m between “crisis” and “emergency” levels of hunger
NIGERIA At least 4.4m in northeast between “crisis” levels of hunger and famine
WHAT OXFAM IS DOING IN SOUTH SUDAN
· Providing water and sanitation to prevent cholera and diarrhoea
· Working to position supplies ahead of the rainy season which makes it even more difficult for people to access aid
· Providing travel vouchers for people to take canoes to reach food distributions
· Providing emergency food distributions and working with people to produce their own food and other income
· Helping people to claim their rights, flee violence, find safety and access aid
· So far we have helped over 600,000 people across the country and almost 40,000 of the most vulnerable in Panyijar County, Unity State, to where many people have fled from famine-hit areas
WHAT OXFAM IS DOING IN NIGERIA
· Providing people with emergency food support, cash and vouchers
· Providing clean water and better sanitation, including showers and toilets
· Distributing food and cooking equipment, and kits to help people avoid disease
· We have helped some 300,000 in northeast Nigeria’s Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states since May 2014. We aim to help up to 500,000 this year
WHAT OXFAM IS DOING IN YEMEN
· We have reached more than a million people since July 2015 with clean water, hygiene kits and other essentials
· Given cash to more 205,000 people so families can buy food or livestock
· 35,000 have taken part in our cash-for-work programs
WHAT OXFAM IS DOING IN SOMALIA
· Launching a humanitarian response in Somaliland, with aim of reaching at least 10,000 people with clean water, sanitation and cash assistance for food
· As the drought worsens in the next few months, we hope to secure enough funding to expand our response across the region