The City of Sydney has vowed to donate $100,000, launching an appeal to raise money for refugees in drought-stricken Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Led by Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP, the City has partnered with CARE Australia to tackle the urgent East African crisis.
Ms Moore said CARE Australia informed her the situation is worsening.
“According to workers on the ground, East Africa is facing its worst drought and food crisis in six decades with over 13 million drought-stricken people in urgent need of help,” she said.
“Shockingly, 750,000 people are at risk of dying in the next four months without an urgent increase in humanitarian aid. Tragically, many of those affected are children,” She said.
While launching the appeal, the Lord Mayor pointed out that $91 was enough to feed a whole family for a week.
“The City spends hundreds of millions of dollars to make Sydney one of the leading cities in the world. We are in a fortunate position and with that comes responsibility to help others who are not as fortunate.
“This is one of the worst humanitarian crises in living memory, millions of people are starving, many of them are children, and we must help.”
CARE Australia, along with more than 20 other aid agencies have predicted the drought and refugee problem in affected areas will reach breaking point by Christmas.
CARE Australia’s emergency group humanitarian director, Barbara Jackson said: “In more than 20 years of field experience, I have not seen such widespread levels of the effects of lack of food on so many people.”
Councillor Irene Doutney praised City’s choice in supporting CARE and said disasters like this don’t get the attention they need.
“It’s one of the greatest hidden tragedies,” she said.
“If you watch the news, you find out what Kim Kardashian is wearing.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kevin Rudd, has supported the Lord Mayor’s appeal. “The time to respond to this humanitarian crisis is now” he said.
Marrickville Council staff have also raised money for the UNICEF East Africa Appeal, with a barbecue in late September, donating a total of $951.30 to the fund.
By Georgia Fullerton
