Transcript
Answering the cry
Horn of Afric a
Aug 30
2011
MannaPack Potato–W in Kenya
Meals Already Saving the Most Vulnerable in the Horn of Africa!
"The kids really loved it. They took a bite, took another bite, and then before I knew it the bowl was empty.” — Stefan Radelich.
Feed My Starving Children is sending at least 5 million meals to the Horn of Africa famine over and above what we had already allocated to our partners in the region for 2011. Nearly all of the emergency shipments have been sent or are departing soon.
By Mark Crea, CEO/E xecutive Direc tor As our food arrives in the camps of East Africa, it is gratifying to see despair turn to hope in the fight against famine.
In the month of August, FMSC sent:
Through an airlift by Reach Now International, 46,000 servings of our special MannaPack™ Potato-W formula are saving the most vulnerable young children in rural Kenya – an area that has lost all its resources during a 5-year drought.
■ ■ Three shipments to Ethiopia ■ ■ Six to Kenya ■ ■ Four to Somalia, including 272,000 meals to the tribes of a Min-
“The look of pride and happiness on mothers’ faces was priceless as they made the food and fed their children,” says Stefan Radelich of Feed the Hungry, who delivered the food.
nesota Somali sultan (see reverse).
But we’re not finished. Millions of drought and famine victims will need help as they resettle and recover. Our staff is in close communication with E. African partners, making plans for rehabilitation and community development work through our next fiscal year.
Our short-term and long-range commitment This shipment is one of many from Feed My Starving Children to the Horn of Africa, where 13 million people are threatened by the worst famine in 60 years. FMSC has worked in East Africa for 15 years. Our capable partners in the region and our three MannaPack meal formulas designed to reverse severe malnourishment position FMSC to respond.
Please be part of this powerful work. Donate on our home page at fmsc.org. Look under “News and Resources/Press Releases” for detailed information. 1
August 26, 2011
Feed My Starving Children
fmsc.org
Working Across Faiths Meals Packed with Somalis and Sent to Their Homeland The faces of this famine belong to our neighbors: Somali immigrants who live next door to us here in the U.S. These dear folks stand watch—desperate—as parents, brothers, sisters, and even children back in their Somali homeland suffer from starvation in refugee camps, or die on the way. One such neighbor is Sultan Aliyoow of Minneapolis. When his father died last fall, this young man inherited leadership of his clan of 40,000 back home in Somalia— farmers who’ve lost all their cattle. And now the Sultan is responsible for the tribe’s survival. A mutual Christian friend—Michael Neterer of World Relief Minnesota—introduced the Sultan to Feed My Starving Children, and we responded to his plea for food. Before long a shipment of 272,000 meals was approved for Sultan’s people in the worst-hit region of southern Somalia, near Mogadishu. The atmosphere was urgent: The Sultan’s community raised money for the shipping. Minnesota Somalis packed meals together with their Christian neighbors. And then, on August 24, the shipment was blessed in a special ceremony at the Coon Rapids site of Feed My Starving Children. Soon it will be on the Mediterranean and into the Somali port city of Berbera, where the Sultan’s family has taken personal responsibility for its secure delivery. Keenly aware of lawless forces in his homeland, the Sultan attached a bold message to the boxes: “Judgment day is coming. You will be accountable to Allah for your actions. Allow this food to get to the women and children who need it most.” And Michael Neterer prayed, “In the name of Jesus, we pray protection on this food.” Sultan Aliyoow braves criticism to work across faiths with a Christian organization. But he told the media, “This is just the beginning. We plan a long-term relationship with Feed My Starving Children.” In the name of Christ, Feed My Starving Children—and our supporters—have the rare chance to be a Good Samaritan to our Somali neighbors, working not only for survival, but for long-term reform in their homeland. Somali Friends at our headquarters From top to bottom: The Sultan's people gather in makeshift feeding camps in S. Somalia; Members of Somali Women Education Network pack meals in Coon Rapidsa; Sultan Aliyoow prays over the shipment which contains a sign pleading for safe passage of the food. Won’t you support this effort? Please donate generously at fmsc.org.
Verse to Remember “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “ The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” — Luke 10: 36-37 (Passage on the Good Samaritan) 2
