In three short days, we are headed to Swaziland. Looks like I’m going to be able to post some video on the blog! To keep you informed with the conditions and what is happening, here’s a short article about what the Anglican church is doing and what is currently happening with the drought and coldest winter in years:<\/p>\n
\nEpiscopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing food aid to people
\nin Swaziland after ongoing drought. The country has been struggling
\nthrough one of its worst periods of drought in years.\n<\/p>\n
In Swaziland, eighty percent of people are dependent on
\nsubsistence farming, although only 10% of the land is fit for growing
\ncrops. Drought, floods, and overgrazing has weakened the quality of the
\nsoil needed to produce crops for harvest. It is estimated that over
\n350,000 people, or 1\/3 of a total population of 1.2 million, have been
\naffected by hunger over the past four years.\n<\/p>\n
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is partnering with the
\nAnglican Diocese of Swaziland to distribute essentially food aid in
\nShiselweni, the region most affected by the drought. The food
\nassistance includes bags of maize and beans and cooking oil for food
\npreparation. Vehicles are also being provided to transport the goods to
\nlocal communities. <\/p>\n