What Can I Do?

The Problem:

3.5 million Kenyans face starvation as grain surplus sold abroad

"Information and Communications Minister Mutahi Kagwe announced a day earlier that the number of Kenyans at risk from the food crisis had increased to 3.5 million from 2.5 million."

"Surplus food in the west of Kenya is being exported abroad rather than diverted to those at risk from the food crisis."

(That means it's being exported to US... instead of given to starving Kenyans.)

"Aid agencies do not have money to buy food from districts with surplus harvests to feed those hit by the food shortages, said Peter Smerdon, spokesman of the World Food Program...Without new donations, WFP will run out of food to distribute in drought affected areas by the end of February."

"Our previous warnings and appeals have sadly received little response from the donors. What is a very limited window of opportunity to avert mass suffering in Kenya is closing very fast," he said. "We don't want Kenya to become another Niger, where in 2005 donation only increased when people started dying after months of appeals for contributions to prevent deaths."

The Solution:

Whether or not we, the U.S. government or the Kenyan government might be to blame, WE can still do something. No donation is too small.

Donate to the UN World Food Programme.

The link will take you to the FAQ page and on the left is a tab where you're able to donate.

If you don't want to donate online, feel free to mail a check to the following address:

United States
US Friends of the WFP
1819 L Street NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC20036

Be sure to include a note specifying:

1. Your Name
2. Your Address (optional)
3. That you're giving to the operations in Kenya.

Well, I've heard a lot of people say to me, "gee, that's too bad about the crap around the world, but what can I really do about it?" Here's something you can do. :)