Wahroonga, New South Wales — The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia is assisting more drought and famine affected communities in the Horn of Africa as a result of the generosity of donors and the Australian Government’s dollar for dollar pledge.

With the promise of increased funding, ADRA Australia has pledged to ramp up its relief work in the Horn of Africa by building two additional lifesaving, deep-water bore holes in Kenyan communities, which will provide long term water sources.

“By getting behind our East Africa Drought Appeal, supporters will help us double those receiving lifesaving food and water and reach out to thousands more suffering acute starvation and malnutrition,” said Chris Olafson, ADRA Australia’s Director of Emergency Management.

“But if we don’t act now, we risk a tragic humanitarian catastrophe on a scale never seen before.”

Donate to ADRA Australia's East Africa Drought Appeal today and have your donation matched by the Australian Government's Dollar for Dollar pledge! Donate online or call 1800 24 ADRA (2372).

The additional bore holes will be drilled more than 150 metres beneath the earth’s surface, reaching underlying water tablelands and guaranteeing a water supply that will last 10 years.

ADRA Australia will fund the construction of the bore holes, along with the equipment needed to drill the bore holes and will undertake testing to ensure the water is safe to drink.

“Thousands of households will now have access to clean, lifesaving water; water committees within the villages will be trained to monitor the maintenance of the bore holes in the years to come,” said Mr Olafson.

ADRA Australia is already distributing essential food items like maize, beans, vegetable oil and salt, while also supplying water to those in the Mwingi District. ADRA Australia has also been installing sanitation stations to prevent the spread of deadly diseases like cholera and measles.

Be part of this lifesaving work and take advantage of the government’s dollar-for-dollar pledge, by giving to ADRA Australia’s East Africa Drought Appeal. Please donate online or call 1800 24 ADRA (2372).

AusAID, the Australian Government’s overseas aid program, has committed to match dollar for dollar any donation given by an individual to ADRA Australia’s East Africa Drought Appeal, but only until the 30th November this year.

More than 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are suffering from starvation; more than two million of these are children in need of immediate assistance. Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti have experienced consecutive failed rainy seasons which have seen water sources dry up, crops fail and livelihoods destroyed.

In the last year, ADRA Australia has responded to the Queensland Floods, Cyclone Yasi, the Christchurch Earthquake, the Japanese Tsunami and recently the floods in Thailand. ADRA Australia is a Christian aid and humanitarian agency that supports communities at home and overseas through a wide range of development and disaster relief activities.