Water Crisis
No Clean Water!
Results from a recent study of current living conditions
throughout Africa report that more than one billion people do not have enough
clean water to provide for their basic human needs. As a result, more than
2,500 children are dying each day.
"When people are desperately thirsty," one official explained, "they are
willing to take the risk of disease by consuming water that may not be healthy.
For them - it's either risk infection or die from thirst! It is a horrible
position to be in."
Unsafe drinking water can carry diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis,
intestinal worm infections, dengue, and schistosomiasis - as well as bacteria
that can lead to deadly diarrheal infections. "In some areas," the report
continued, "the level of suffering and misery owing to the inadequacy of clean
water is almost beyond comprehension judging by the number of pregnant women and
children who suffer from deadly diarrheal diseases such as cholera and
dysentery.
"These parasites and diseases feed on very young children and the elderly,"
explains Fr. Richard Roy. Fr. Roy is the director of the Missionaries of
Africa's development office in Washington, DC. "They are the innocent and silent
members of society... they have no one to be a voice for them."
"Entire villages and communities are being wiped out
by diseases that are living in dirty water," Fr. Roy
continued. "Children are dying in huge numbers! For
many people, these numbers are so big that they cannot
begin to comprehend them - they are statistics! But
imagine your own child dying . . . and then imagine
if it happened to every child in your neighborhood school!
That's when we start to understand how horrible the
crisis is! These poor people desperately need our help!"
The Missionaries of Africa are currently accepting contributions
that will be used to provide safe drinking water for
men, women and children in Africa's neediest regions.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Drought!
Devastating drought is once again threatening the lives
of African men, women and children. In the months ahead,
as many as 14 million people will be at risk of starvation
and malnutrition.
"Vegetation has decreased drastically," a study on
the current conditions within the African continent
recently stated. "The eastern side of the continent
on the Horn of Africa is being affected more substantially
than others. In this region, the rainy season occurs
between February and June. Much less rain has fallen
than normal this year, so their staple crops of corn
and sorghum simply withered. Poor harvests over the
past three years have worn away food surpluses and incomes
in the region. As many as 14 million people may be at
risk of malnutrition or starvation." The study stated
that as much as 270,000 metric
tons of food assistance will be needed immediately .
. . but only 120,000 metric
tons is currently available.
"Food shortages are particularly severe in eastern
and southern Ethiopia," another report explained, "where
deaths from starvation are being increasingly reported.
Sudan and Uganda are also being affected."
"We are seeing an entire continent of people experience
suffering like never before!" explains Fr. Richard Roy
who served in Africa as a missionary for more than 20
years before being assigned to head the organization's
development office in Washington, DC. "With a drought
of this magnitude -- the land, the animals, the people
-- everything is dying! If we don't reach out - we could
see the end of entire villages, regions . . . even cities.
An enormous amount of food, water and medicine is needed.
I am praying that our benefactors will help us get supplies
to our missionaries in the field . . . so that they
can reach those who are on the verge of dying!"
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