Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - December 11, 2002
AmeriCares is making a worldwide plea for financial donations. To facilitate the appeal, the newly re-launched AmeriCares website (http://www.AmeriCares.org) is featuring a special section for donor contributions and education.
The famine is a potential humanitarian disaster of unprecedented proportions. The people of southern Africa, already suffering from an HIV/AIDS pandemic affecting 25% of the population, now face a drastic shortfall in grain supplies. Also, HIV/AIDS has had a serious impact on the region's food situation by depleting the labor force and thus reducing food production. This vicious cycle is placing millions of people at risk.
While the famine is impacting most of southern Africa, it has taken an especially significant toll in Malawi. Malawi is one of the world's poorest nations with 54% of the population living below the poverty line and an estimated 3.2 million people facing food shortages. In addition to delivering life-saving relief supplies, AmeriCares is constructing a 30-foot by 60-foot structure which will serve as a therapeutic feeding center on the grounds of the Malamulo Hospital in Malawi.
Ethiopia, torn by bloody coups, political uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, is also in grave danger, with 15 million people at risk of starvation. AmeriCares sea shipments to Ethiopia will be distributed to health centers and hospitals throughout the affected regions. AmeriCares has been working in Ethiopia since the titanic famine of 1984 and 1985 in which over 1 million people died from malnutrition.
About AmeriCares
AmeriCares is the non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs, and supports long-term health care programs for people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political orientation. Since its inception in 1982, AmeriCares has delivered more than $2.6 billion in aid to 137 nations worldwide. Please help us to continue our relief efforts by sending your cash donations to AmeriCares, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 or by calling AmeriCares at 1.800.486.HELP or log onto http://www.americares.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Elizabeth Griffin Maureen Landers
AmeriCares LandersMadden Public Relations
(203) 972-5500 (212) 292-8560
egriffin@americares.orgmaureen.landers@landersmadden.com
SOURCE AmeriCares
Web Site: http://www.americares.org
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