American Red Cross Sends $1 Million for Africa Food Relief

Millions Suffering From Hunger in Drought-Affected Horn of Africa Region

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2000--The American Red Cross is sending $1 million to help feed the hungry in the Horn of Africa's drought-affected regions. Ethiopia is the hardest hit in a region that also includes Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan. More than 7.7 million people in Ethiopia need immediate distribution of food to meet basic nutritional needs and to minimize the extent of already existing malnutrition. Two American Red Cross personnel are in to the region to facilitate the distribution of food aid to those most vulnerable to starvation.

The cash contribution will be used to purchase food supplies for two of the regions hardest hit by drought and starvation in Ethiopia: Gode (southeastern) and South Wello (north-central). Of the $1 million, $585,000 will be used to purchase 1,000 metric tons of supplemental food for Gode. The remaining $475,000 will go toward the purchase of 560 metric tons to be distributed in South Wello. More than 100,000 people will receive supplemental food through these two programs.

"This very grave situation in Ethiopia is the result of several seasons of drought that have decimated food production supplies and livestock," said Dr. Bernadine Healy, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "This immediate contribution of cash and support from American Red Cross personnel in Africa will begin to provide needed nutrition and hope for the people in Gode and South Wello," she continued.

The American Red Cross is coordinating efforts to procure and distribute the food supplies with the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the World Food Program. Two American Red Cross delegates will be traveling throughout the region to best determine how to use American Red Cross resources to alleviate hunger.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. To help the victims of this and other disasters, contributions can be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution. Contributions to the International Response Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. A Volunteer-led humanitarian service organization operating on a current budget of $2.3 billion, the American Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 60,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. The American Red Cross also trains more than 11.7 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 20 countries, and transmits more than 1.4 million emergency messages to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Dr. Bernadine Healy is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.