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	May 9, 2003
..................................................... LCMSNews -- No.
38

	LWR: Ethiopian aid critical
	as millions face starvation

	Outside aid has made a big difference in Ethiopia, where more
than 11 million people are at risk of starvation, but more is needed
urgently -- $350 million more, according to an aid delegation that has
visited the East African country.

	We entered homes with literally nothing more than a cooking
pot, a few utensils and well-worn mats on a dirt floor, said Kathryn
Wolford, president of Baltimore-based Lutheran World Relief (LWR).
Families had already depleted their seeds and sold their animals. I saw
one child, age 3, who was the size of a 1-year-old ... and realized we
were seeing what could happen more and more frequently if adequate food
assistance and other support are not forthcoming.

	Wolford and the heads of Catholic Relief Services and Africare
returned in March from a mission to assess the severe food shortage in
Ethiopia. The delegation held a briefing at the National Press Club in
Washington, conveying a mixture of alarm, optimism and confidence.

	After the news conference, the delegation spent the afternoon
bringing the same message to members of Congress. Now is the time for
long-term development assistance to pre-empt the next food crisis as
well, they stressed.

	It is impossible to visit Ethiopia today and not think about
the 1984-85 famine, Wolford said. More people are at risk today than in
that epic disaster of a million deaths, she said.

	Population increases, crop failures, environmental damage and
the prevalence of HIV/AIDS all add to the risk of a major humanitarian
crisis, according to Wolford. Eritrea, where 2 million people are
affected by a similar food crisis, also needs assistance, the group
said.

	Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of food aid in the
world, yet is one of the smallest recipients of development aid, even
though it is among the worlds poorest countries. Africare President
Julius Coles noted that the U.S. governments emergency aid to Ethiopia
was 50 times greater last year than its agricultural development
assistance -- $200 million versus $4 million.

	Substantial new investments in agriculture, marketing and
education today can break the cycle of recurring hunger tomorrow, Coles
said.

	Contributions, earmarked African Food Crisis, may be sent to
LCMS World Relief, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-9810. Or, call
the credit-card gift line at (888) 930-4438. The LCMS agency will
forward the funds to Lutheran World Relief in Baltimore.

	This is a genuine and extreme crisis in the making, said Rev.
Matthew Harrison, executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human
Care. This is exactly the kind of cooperation in externals effort
that we in the LCMS will support in every way possible.

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