R EAST AFRICA´S FOOD CRYSIS-

COUNTRY BY COUNTRY
Young people in our country can not imagine what it means to starve. We have almost
everything we want. Being poor for us it means not having the newest computer or a new
car. Most of us live in warm houses or apartments, we have loving parents, who go to
work every day to provide us everything we need. We go to school every day, where we
sit in nice classrooms and we study for a life to come. Our biggest problem is a bad grade
or not getting a new telephone. For most of us anyway. But not everyone is so fortunate.
Millions of children (and adults) all over the world are starving. Their everyday problem
is how to feed themselves and their family. They dont have enough food, clean water,
place to live, clothes to ware. And theese are the real problems. A lot (or probably the
most) starving people are in Africa. A lot of countries in Africa are undeveloped, in war,
people are not educated, thereefor a lot of desasses are killing people. Let me tell you
something about a few of them.

Ethiopia
Population: 73.1 million
The chronic food crisis in Ethiopia results from drought, environmental degradation
and a low availability of food resources. The crisis was recently worsened because of a
huge influx of livestock from drought-stricken northeastern Kenya and southwestern
Somalia. In addition, the prevalence of HIV infection is increasingly affecting food
security in this East African nation, which is one of the world's least developed
countries. World Vision is supplying emergency food aid, farming assistance, water,
sanitation support and health and nutrition training in all areas of the country where its
programs are operational. Plans are to assist other seriously affected regions of the
country as well.

Kenya
Population: 33.8 million
The hunger crisis in Kenya is the result of multiple factors, including widespread
poverty, stunted economic growth, a drought-prone climate and a burgeoning
population-including some 250,000 refugees, mainly from Sudan and Somalia.
Successive droughts and the failure of last fall's short rains have severely affected
livelihoods in the northern and eastern rural regions. In addition, food security is
impacted by a very high prevalence of HIV and AIDS in western Kenya and the slums of
Nairobi.World Vision is currently the lead relief agency in four Kenyan districts,
assisting more than 250,000 people suffering food shortages. The organization has
already distributed thousands of tons of food from the World Food Program to
communities in desperate need. Along with this continuing response, World Vision is
supplying water, sanitation support and health and nutrition assistance. It is also
supporting food-for-work and supplementary feeding programs.

Tanzania
Population: 36.8 million
Below-average rainfall in Tanzania has left the country's agricultural sector struggling.
Short rains typically begin at the end of November, but this year, November and
December were mostly dry. According to the Tanzanian government, some 613,000
people in 10 regions across the country face acute food shortages. More than half of
World Vision's 67 development programs in the Central and Lake regions are severely
affected by the current food crisis.World Vision is establishing a three-month emergency
feeding program in all of the severely drought-affected regions in which it works.
Affected families are receiving cereals to help alleviate children's hunger. They are also
receiving agricultural support to help improve their food security.

Somalia
Population: 8.6 million
According to the World Food Program, Somalia's food crisis has resulted from years of
political instability combined with prolonged droughts and sub-average rains over the
past four years. Severe environmental degradation is an ongoing problem; in many parts
of the country, herdsmen have lost 50 percent or more of their livestock. It is estimated
that almost three of every four people in Somalia are malnourished.World Vision is
supporting emergency food distribution and supplementary feeding and nutrition
programs in Somalia, as well as providing water and sanitation support to
approximately 184,000 people. Food distributions have begun in Bu'alle, where 1,700
metric tons of food from the World Food Program was recently distributed in four days.

Uganda
Population: 27.3 million
The food crisis in Uganda is aggravated by drought, a high prevalence of HIV infection
and a long-running guerrilla war in the northern part of the country. Despite fertile soil
and favorable weather, more than half the population has inadequate food and lives in
abject poverty.World Vision, in partnership with the World Food Program, is
distributing food at dozens of camps for internally displaced people in the conflict-
ridden Padur, Gulu, Kitgum and Lira districts. It is also distributing goats and other
support to HIV- and AIDS-affected households in Gulu.

Niger
Population: 11.7 million
Niger is one of the poorest, and hottest, countries in the world. Ninety percent of the
population is engaged in agriculture, but the scorching climate and arid landscape make
consistent crop growth difficult. Adding to the challenge is the frequent occurrence of
droughts.World Vision has begun large-scale relief in all areas of Niger in which it
works, providing food to thousands affected by the food shortage. In addition, a food
security program offered by the organization aims to ensure that all have access to
sufficient amounts of nutritious food.

Sudan
Population: 40.2 million
Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars for most of the second half of the 20th
century. In 2003, a separate conflict erupted in the western region of Darfur. This
conflict, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of nearly
two million people, continues today. The crisis is complicated by large numbers of
refugees from neighboring countries (primarily Chad and Ethiopia), poor transport
infrastructure and internal challenges that hamper the provision of humanitarian relief
to desperate people. World Vision operates food security and livelihood programs in
southern Sudan, ranging from seed and tools distribution, to introducing new farming
technologies and practices as well as market development support. Thousands of people
in South Darfur have received World Vision food aid. This year, the organization is
expanding its assistance to include recovery, rehabilitation and development services
such as food-for-work and school feeding programs.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population: 60 million
Armed conflict amongst tribes, rebels and militia continues in the northeastern region of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), embroiling the neighboring states of
Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. This persistent insecurity is the greatest threat to
economic development and the improvement of food security. Widespread poverty
manifests itself in a lack of basic education, health and social services. More than 1
million people in the DRC are living with AIDS.World Vision is responding to desperate
needs in North Kivu, a province in eastern DRC that has seen significant violence as well
as a massive influx of displaced people from the even more volatile Ituri region. World
Vision's work in this area is addressing the critical needs for clean water and nutritious
food.

Zimbabwe
Population: 12.7 million
Zimbabwe's food crisis is complicated by an economic downturn, a high prevalence of
HIV infection and a history of erratic rainfall. According to the World Food Program,
the country produced insufficient food in 2005 to feed its citizens and is economically
unable to import enough to keep people from starving. Through its agricultural recovery
program, World Vision distributes seeds and fertilizer to vulnerable households. Feeding
programs are now implemented in 100 schools, complementing existing supplementary
feeding programs in the communities where World Vision works.

I think, there is not a easy way to solve this problems, but at least we can try. By
educating people, helping them to learn to take care of themselves, to learn new
technologies for farming and agryculture. Buta t first we must help them, so they can
help themselves. Everyone of us can do a small thing. It matters.

Amra Begovič