The fund created with the 17.8 million francs raised through the April 2017 “Famine in Africa” campaign is not large enough to finance all the projects Swiss Solidarity’s partner NGOs proposed in order to deal with the dramatic consequences of conflict and drought in Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria. The resulting drought and food crisis continue to threaten the lives of millions of people in these three countries. Swiss Solidarity is therefore relaunching its appeal for donations and hopes to raise an additional two to three million francs to aid victims currently being attended to by these NGOs on the ground.
Treating malnutrition and providing food aid, emergency medical care, and access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities: twelve projects overseen by nine partner NGOs are currently being funded in Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, Uganda and Niger thanks to the fundraising campaign Swiss Solidarity ran last April. The food crisis in Africa is still cause for concern, as millions of people in these countries face severe malnutrition or even famine. War and drought are making vast swaths of Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria completely unliveable, resulting in major flows of displaced persons and refugees arriving in refugee camps, oftentimes in a neighbouring country, in an extremely precarious physical and mental state.
Following April’s fundraising campaign, five of Swiss Solidarity’s partner NGOs were able to set to work responding to the most vital needs of affected populations. ADRA, Save the Children and Medair in Somalia, Terre des hommes – child relief in South Sudan and HEKS in refugee camps in Uganda covered the water, food and medical needs of men, women and children. These same NGOs have since stepped up their efforts, while others, including Caritas in Somaliland and CBM in Niger, have launched new projects. Swiss Solidarity has also supported the ICRC’s vast program in Nigeria, particularly in the very dangerous northeast region near Lake Chad, where conflict and drought have made the situation catastrophic. To date, a total of 10.5 million francs has been committed for twelve projects set to run for between six and twelve months. In early August, Swiss Solidarity received eight new requests for funding worth a total of over 11 million francs. As it stands, the fund will not adequately cover all needs.
Donations may be made anytime either directly online at www.swiss-solidarity.org, via the Swiss Solidarity app or through postal account 10-15000-6 (mention “Famine in Africa”). Swiss Solidarity payment slips are available at all post offices in Switzerland.
Swiss Solidarity, 1211 Geneva 8
