HORN OF AFRICA FAMINE APPEAL

The Bermuda Red Cross has launched a cash appeal to support the communities in the Horn of Africa. Famine, drought and conflict have left millions of people needing food, water and healthcare. The UN says that in the last few months, tens of thousands of Somalis have died of causes related to malnutrition. Most of them were children.

Very poor rainfall in the region (which includes Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda) has led to the driest period in 60 years for some areas, leading to crop failures and deaths of livestock. High and increasing staple food prices, as well as regional conflict, are combining with the weather to make a bad situation even worse. The rate of refugees from Somalia arriving in southern Ethiopia has increased from 5,000 a month to more than 30,000 in the second week in June. Almost half the children arriving in Ethiopia from Somalia are malnourished. The Red Cross has already acted early to mitigate the impact of drought in the region, but it is now in an extreme situation where we urgently need more funds to address emergency needs. Money raised will go to support the work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the region, both providing emergency relief and helping people recover their livelihoods. The East Africa Food Crisis Appeal will cover numerous countries including those currently affected and those potentially affected in the future. In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters.

Donations can be made by direct deposit into the following accounts:

Donations can be made by direct deposit into the following account:
Bank of N.T. Butterfield                        20-006-060-365472-200
HSBC Bank of Bermuda                                010-187417-012

Or call us at 236-8253 with debit/credit card details or by mail to:
Bermuda Red Cross
Horn of Africa Famine Appeal Fund
P.O. Box HM 772
Hamilton HM CX
Bermuda


Why we do not accept in-kind donations:
The best way to help a disaster victim is through a financial donation to the Red Cross.  Financial contributions allow the Red Cross to purchase exactly what is needed for the disaster relief operation.  The Red Cross initially responds to most international relief efforts with monetary support, and, when needed, ships items such as comfort kits, clean-up kits, medical supplies, tents or tarps.  Monetary donations also enable the Red Cross to purchase relief supplies close to the disaster site, which avoids delays, and transportation costs in getting basic necessities to disaster victims.  Because the affected community has experienced significant economic loss, the purchase of relief supplies in or close to the disaster site also helps to stimulate the weakened local economy. 

TRUSTED GLOBALY—FOCUSED LOCALLY—RESPONDING IMPARTIALLY