World Vision Joins Global Day of Prayer to End Famine in East Africa

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

 

World Vision CEO Claire Rogers said today that the World Council of Churches declaration of May 21 as a Global Day of Prayer to End Famine came in response to warnings that more than 20 million people face starvation in what the UN has declared the largest humanitarian crisis since 1945.

“The Day of Prayer is an acknowledgement that time is running out especially for the children,” Ms Rogers said. “It’s a call for changed hearts, a caring response and an end to violence.”

 The call to action for Christians to pray and engage with churches, governments and society comes days before the G7 meets in Italy on May 26-27. The G7 will discuss food security, crisis situations in sub-Saharan Africa and migration.

“Hundreds of thousands of people could die if help does not get to them fast. So far, this crisis has failed to mobilise the urgent attention and funding needed to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.”

World Vision hopes the Day of Prayer will raise awareness. Christians are urged to pray for peace as conflict is the common denominator across the four countries facing famine and to take action, including giving to agencies who are working on the ground.

World Vision is currently delivering life-saving food, water, and health interventions in South Sudan, where famine has already been declared, in Somalia, which is on the brink, and responding to the needs of Nigerian refugees who have fled violence to Chad and Niger.

Key facts

World Vision has reached 1 million people in South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya with humanitarian assistance and aims to reach 2.2 million with a US$92 million response

The international community has appealed for US$4.4 billion for Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. So far US$1.1 billion has been given. 

Global partners in the Day of Prayer include: The All Africa Conference of Churches, Caritas in Veritate International, Salvation Army International, United Methodist Church-Global Ministries, World Evangelical Alliance; with many other national partners also joining.

Join the International Day of Prayer

Media Releases, Emergencies, Water & sanitation, Poverty, Climate change, Famine, Africa, Famine, Somalia, South Sudan

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