{"id":1007,"date":"2011-08-25T07:08:21","date_gmt":"2011-08-25T11:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/activistfaith\/?p=1007"},"modified":"2011-08-25T07:08:21","modified_gmt":"2011-08-25T11:08:21","slug":"tell-congress-to-help-famine-victims-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/activistfaith\/2011\/08\/tell-congress-to-help-famine-victims-now.html","title":{"rendered":"Tell Congress to Help Famine Victims Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Maybe you’ve seen the recent images of Africa’s current famine and have wished you could help. There are many ways you can participate, but here is a free one–sign this petition.<\/p>\n

Use your voice to help encourage our nation’s leaders to provide strong support to those ravaged by famine and in desperate need. Please take a look at the following petitions from the International Rescue Committee at Change.org, join the online petition, and share with others. If we each do something, who knows how many lives might be changed?<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT<\/h5>\n

One of the worst humanitarian crises in 60 years is unfolding right now as famine \u00a0and severe drought ravage Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and the surrounding region in Africa.<\/p>\n

Without rainfall, 11.6 million people have been affected by this natural \u00a0disaster as water dries up and crops and animals perish. People continue to be uprooted from their homes by drought and hospitals and camps overflow with\u00a0refugees. The international community cannot ignore this worsening emergency.<\/p>\n

Without more attention and financial support, this human tragedy could soon <\/strong>\u00a0become a forgotten crisis. The time to speak up is now.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seven-month-old Mihag is one of 800,000 children at risk of dying. After their cattle \u00a0and sheep died, Mihag\u2019s family, like many others, was on the move in search of \u00a0water, food and medical help. Weak from the journey and alarmingly underweight, \u00a0Mihag needed emergency nourishment and care. Though he is now receiving \u00a0medical attention at an International Rescue Committee field hospital, he remains in \u00a0critical condition.<\/p>\n

Urge the United States Congress to provide emergency funding to help victims of\u00a0the drought and famine. <\/strong>Ask your legislators to keep this devastating famine from becoming a forgotten crisis.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

PETITION LETTER<\/h5>\n

Please Help Famine Victims in Africa NOW<\/p>\n

Dear Member of Congress,<\/p>\n

I write to call your attention to the drought and famine on the Horn of Africa.<\/p>\n

Experts predict that this will be the worst humanitarian crisis in 60 years. I am concerned that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children will suffer and die because of a lack of water, food, medicines and shelter.<\/p>\n

Please move quickly to provide significant emergency aid to the people of East Africa. Funding should not be re-allocated away from other programs for those who are hungry, sick, and in need. Otherwise we will only replicate this crisis in other locations.<\/p>\n

In addition to funding refugee and disaster aid, I urge you to take an interest in this crisis, speak out to the media, work to remove barriers to aid delivery and take a special interest in protecting women and girls.<\/p>\n

I realize that budget constraints will present tough choices in the year ahead.<\/p>\n

Given the magnitude of this crisis, however, America must lead the way in moving quickly to provide robust aid.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[Posted here<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/section>\n

 <\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

DILLON BURROUGHS<\/strong> is an author, activist, and co-founder of Activist Faith. Dillon served in Haiti following the epic 2010 earthquake and has investigated modern slavery in the US and internationally. His books include Undefending Christianity<\/em><\/a>, Not in My Town<\/em><\/a> (with Charles J. Powell), and Thirst No More<\/em><\/a>. Discover more at ActivistFaith.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Maybe you’ve seen the recent images of Africa’s current famine and have wished you could help. There are many ways you can participate, but here is a free one–sign this petition. Use your voice to help encourage our nation’s leaders to provide strong support to those ravaged by famine and in desperate need. 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