U.S. Church Group Appeals for Food, Emergency Aid in West Africa

(Photo Credit: Christian Aid)People in Masbore village, Zondoma province, Burkina Faso are seen in a file photo.

Low rainfall and devastated food crops in west Sub-Saharan Africa have prompted a U.S.-based multi-denominational church group to issue a $100,000 appeal to help provide food and other emergency assistance to more than 83,000 people.

Church World Service's appeal will provide for aid being led by UK-based church charity Christian Aid in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal through the UK-based church charity Christian Aid.

CWS says a dry climate has resulted in smaller than usuall harvests as the prices of staple foods rise with some communities only having 15 percent of the grains they need. The group says political upheavals in North and West Africa are also contributing to the food crisis as migrant workers have been able to send less money back home and violence in Mali has displaced 220,000 people since January.

The aid will also provide ways for communities to supply their own food through projects led by Christian aid such as providing farmers with seeds, tools and animal fodder, as well as support community cash-for-work projects to control erosion subsidize rice sales by local farmers and promote sustainable livestock management.

For a full list specifics for each country see the appeal on the Church World Service website (click here.)

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