Though FWD Day has ended, Somalis continue to walk miles for food, and so we too must march on for the cause.
The USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) just released data that indicates improvements in food security in all areas of Somalia, largely driven by humanitarian assistance. However famine conditions remain in three areas in southern Somalia and will likely persist until early 2012. We know from past famines that when we stop assistance too early, we have new spikes of mortality and disease.
Refugees are Still Walking for Food. Photo credit: EAFC
As the famine maintains its deadly grip on the Horn of Africa through the New Year, the American response must not waver. If you haven’t already, you can continue to amplify the message by creating and uploading your own videos about the crisis in the Horn to our FWD YouTube page. We had more than 40 video submissions from Americans throughout the country on FWD>Day. Now it’s your turn to make your own FWD video and upload it to our YouTube site.
You can also create a proposal to amplify the message about the crisis in your local community. As is mentioned in our November 17th blog post, USAID, in partnership with GOOD Inc. has launched an online contest for Americans to submit proposals on how to raise awareness in their communities.
Proposals will be accepted through November 28th. At that point the public will vote on which proposal they believe will have the most impact. GOOD will provide the winning proposal $5,000 to implement their plan locally. Check out the contest and submit your proposals.
FWD Day confirms it, and we must repeat it: It doesn’t take a lot—it just takes a lot of us. Let our nation never become tired of doing good.
It is good to hear that humanitarian assistance in Somalia has improved especially with respect to food security. Hopefully with time this assistance will alleviate the famine conditions still present throughout the country.