AFRICA : BURKINA FASO : APPEAL FOR AID FOR FOOD

Cisa News REPORT
OUAGADOUGU, March 27, 2012 (CISA) -The Church’s confederation of relief and development agencies, Caritas, has launched an appeal for USD$ 2.3 million to provide food and other aid for over 45,000 people in Burkina Faso.
Caritas has urged for swift action to avoid future crisis where nearly two million people face hunger.
According to Caritas the price of corn has increased by a third compared to 2010 and the production of grain has fallen by 16 percent.
“We must act now to avoid tragedy in the coming months” said Fr Isidore Ouedraogo, the executive secretary of Caritas Burkina Faso.
“Today, we are witnessing thousands of people who eat only one meal a day. By intervening now, Caritas will help them survive the lean season when the lack of food is most acute,” Ouedraogo said.
Caritas Burkina Faso will provide food distributions to over 7000 homes.
Caritas is concerned about children under-five, who are especially vulnerable to malnutrition. Caritas Burkina Faso’s 43 nutrition recovery centres will ensure 21,000 under-fives receive food and medical support.
They will also work with the local community on education to ensure children receive the food they need.
Caritas will support over 2200 households to be able to grow their own food and restock depleted cereal reserves to help them manage their future harvests.
The humanitarian organisation promised to work at the community level strengthening people’s capacity to withstand food price hikes and poor harvests.
SOURCE : CISA NEWS AFRICA

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