Bonn/Matuu, 23rd November 2006. Deutsche Welthungerhilfe has mobilized 200,000 euros for immediate relief in the Horn of Africa. The funds will be used primarily for the restoration of drinking water supplies and later on for the distribution of seed.

The River Shebelle on the Ethiopian border to Somalia burst its banks and flooded an area of 15 kilometres on either side. 24 villages in this area are being assisted in the sterilisation or re-digging of their wells. Following this, seed will be distributed since floods have washed away crops.

"River levels rose for 16 days," reports Rüdiger Ehrler, a member of Welthungerhilfe's emergency response team. "People were forced to take refuge in trees where they survived on leaves and fruits." Some people were able to escape to higher ground by building floats out of petrol canisters "despite the danger of crocodiles. I saw several myself," reports Ehrler.

In the Kwale District on Kenya's southern coast, Welthungerhilfe will be providing 15,000 people with clean drinking water via water treatment with chlorine and the cleansing of contaminated wells. 63% of the local population here live in abject poverty. Access to many villages is either arduous or impossible. Many wells have been contaminated as a result of flooded latrines.

"The hazards are not over yet. The weather forecast predicts continued heavy rainfall along the coast for the next two to three weeks", says Iris Krebber, Welthungerhilfe's Regional Director in Kenya. "And the population hasn't yet recovered from the effects of the long drought. A bitter irony: First there's no rain, then it comes in torrents. People are in desperate need of our help."

Iris Krebber und Rüdiger Ehrler are available for interviews. For further information see www.welthungerhilfe.de.

Delicio.us  |   Digg  |   NewsVine  |   Reddit                                                                                  Permalink