Mr. Kemal Birru, the Director of Programs at Zakat Foundation of America, was well aware of the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa but he did not comprehend the severity of it until he landed in Ethiopia. He witnessed long lines of people waiting to collect food under sweltering heat, villagers relying on barely drinkable water, and the carcasses of dead animals on the side of roads.
The Horn of Africa, comprised of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, is experiencing the worst drought in years which has led to a massive food insecurity situation forcing millions to face starvation. According to UNICEF, over 18 million people in Ethiopia alone will face food insecurity before the end of 2016 - including over 6 million children.
“Relief work is getting done,” said Mr. Birru, “but we need to do more." Zakat Foundation of America is already active on the ground distributing food aid through partners in Ethiopia. Your donation today can provide a family with food for an entire month. The global community can no longer ignore what may become the world’s next humanitarian crisis.
