STOP THE HUNGER CRISIS...in SAHEL(AFRICA)

Dear Mid-life-Renewal Visitors:

The Government of Canada announced this week that it would match dollar-for-dollar Canadian donations made between August 7th and September 30th to registered Canadian charities responding to the food crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa.

Donate to Development and Peace today and have your gift doubled!

The Sahel, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Chad, is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis.

An estimated 18.4 million people are facing food insecurity and over one million children are suffering from acute malnutrition. Erratic weather has caused the failure of crops resulting in catastrophic food shortages. Although there is food at the market, high prices have made it increasingly difficult for families to purchase food. Furthermore, political turmoil in Mali is exacerbating the situation by causing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

Development and Peace is supporting its local Caritas partners who are already in action, organizing programs to help communities cope with the effects of this worsening food crisis. In collaboration with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, we are supporting large-scale food distribution and complementary projects organized by Caritas partners in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Chad and Mauritania, such as:

Free distribution of food staples (cereals, rice, beans, cooking oil) and sale at reduced prices Distribution of seeds for planting Re-stocking of community granaries Support to improve agricultural production through cash-for-work and food-for-work programs Help for replenishing and feeding livestock Construction and rehabilitation of water sources for human and animal consumption Distribution of non-food items, such as pots and tarps for shelter in refugee camps Medical and nutritional aid for children and mothers

With your help we can increase our support to projects like these, bringing immediate relief to those who need it most and preventing this crisis from spreading.

Please act now to help stop the hunger crisis in the Sahel. Donate today and have your gift doubled.