BURLINGTON, ON - The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) an agency acknowledged by the United Nations for its integrated approach to disaster relief, will begin distributing food on Thursday, October 19 to 5,000 families plagued by famine in Malawi.
"It's the worst maize harvest in 10 years," says Bruce Campbell-Janz, CRWRC relief program manager. "One third of the population is in need of food assistance."
Distribution of 1,750 metric tons of maize and 350 metric tons of beans will begin first in the southern Malawidistrict of Mangochi and will continue for seven months until the next harvest in April 2006.
Thirty-four metric tons of drought-resistant cassava and sorghum seed (along with other alternative drought-resistant seed) is also being distributed to help prevent the recurrence of famine in 2006.
"Planting, cultivating and eating drought-resistant crops leads to greater ongoing food security for the community," says Campbell-Janz.
CRWRC has three staff persons working alongside established partners in Malawi- Nkhoma Synod of the Churchof Central Africa Presbyterianin the Salima district and Save Orphans Ministries in Mangochi - to ensure that those who are hungry receive the food they need.
CRWRC has contributed CDN$197,000 of its own funds to the CDN$986,000 food aid and food security project. The remaining CDN$789,000 has been provided through matching funds granted by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). CRWRC coordinates its food aid projects through membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a member-based organization of 13 church agencies committed to alleviate hunger in the world.
Donations should be earmarked, "Southern Africa Famine" and sent to: CRWRC, P.O. Box5070, LCD 1, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8. Credit card donations can also be made by calling 1-800-730-3490 or through CRWRC's website at www.crwrc.org.
For more information about these programs, please visit www.crwrc.org or call 1-800-730-3490. CRWRC is a Christian, non-profit organization of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. With a bi-national home office base in Burlington, Ontario and Grand Rapids, MI, CRWRC provides a ministry of development, relief, and justice education to people in need around the world. CRWRC is currently active in 30 countries, and has an international reputation for "helping people help themselves."
Stephanie Tombari
Communications Specialist, CRWRC Canada
1-800-730-3490, x. 224
tombaris@crcna.ca
Check out our website at www.crwrc.org!
"Poverty is not natural. It is manmade, and can be overcome by the action of human beings." -Nelson Mandela