CARLSBAD, CA - WORLD EMERGENCY RELIEF (WER) today pledged 10,000,000 meals for famine victims and children at risk in Kenya and Malawi this April.

Working with over 30 local groups in the targeted countries and the U.S.-based GLOBAL FAST initiative, WER expects to ship 54 40-foot containers of rice from an Asian donor, enough to "feed all of New York City and a hunk of New Jersey", calculates WER president, Joel MacCollam.

"We've enough rice in our pipeline to triple these 10,000,000 servings already scheduled for April. There's no one who can feed every child, every day. But that doesn't stop us from our own responsibility, and we want to take on as much of that responsibility as possible in 2007".

World Emergency Relief is one America's strongest advocates of shipping high quality donated commodities overseas, bringing "best standard" goods for children and communities at risk, while delivering upwards of $30's value for each $1 donated.

Kenya and Malawi have been targeted because of WER's long history in the countries and the urgency of local needs. "Both countries", MacCollam suggested, "have suffered serious famine problems this decade, brought on mostly by crop failures because of prolonged drought. Some food is available, but far too expensive for lower-income families, including single parents whose partners are HIV/AIDS victims".

"Another major challenge fighting hunger in Africa, aside from weather and war", MacCollam continued, "is local storage and transportation infrastructures. Our local partners will have their own warehouse capacities and vehicles available to move our food from port to where food will be distributed."

Each 40-foot container will cost WER upwards of $4,000 to haul its food from port to local feeding centers. As little as three cents will give a healthy portion of rice to a hungry child. Each $10 donated will deliver approximately 290 meals to Kenya and Malawi this April, specially targeted for children most at risk.

WER credits GLOBAL FAST as its catalyst for this spring's 10 MILLION MEALS campaign. "Global Fast", MacCollam concluded, "has just launched its own national strategy for global prayer and fasting. They invited WER on board because of our "top in country" standing with the "Charity Navigator" watchdog for efficiency among overseas aid agencies. We've earned that rating by focusing our energy on donated high quality goods and strengthening local agencies' own service capacities.

Founded in 1985, WORLD EMERGENCY RELIEF is rated one of America's most efficient charities by Charity Navigator and meets all accountability and "best practices" standards for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and other major national charity watchdogs.

WER is a global fellowship and Christians and like-minded individuals working together through relief and development, to "give children a living chance" by targeting "embraceable communities" ™ for synergistic aid delivery and strengthening local outreaches so that neighbors can help each other.

WORLD EMERGENCY RELIEF is a global family with offices in the U.S, U.K., Holland, Germany, France, Hong Kong and Honduras, all with a common vision and core values, working together with local and indigenous nonprofit organizations to fight poverty and hunger, and provide relief for victims of disaster, conflict and despair. Our vision is "giving children a living chance", by addressing the practical, emotional, spiritual and economic needs of children, their families and communities. All contributions from U.S. taxpayers are tax-deductible.

Donations for 10 MILLION MEALS can be sent to World Emergency Relief, P.O. Box 131570, Carlsbad, CA 92013, called in by credit card to 888-HUG-4-KID, or made on the charity's website, www.worldemergencyrelief.org.

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