West Africa Food Crisis

Recently it has been estimated that 10 million people in the Sahel Region of Africa are facing severe food shortages. Erratic rainfall, droughts and insect infestations have led to poor harvests and are leaving already vulnerable groups including mothers and children at risk of severe malnutrition in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

Without immediate action, over one million children under the age of five are likely to suffer from severe acute malnutrition; up to one third of these children are likely to be in Niger alone.

But thanks to the support from our donors, Red Cross teams are currently providing immediate life-saving assistance including clean water, emergency supplies and basic health services including first aid in affected regions.

The Canadian Red Cross has had a strong presence in West Africa since 2004 and has reached millions of people with vital health programming. We are committed to continuing to support communities in the region and have both emergency stock and personnel currently on standby if needed.

Thanks to you, children and families across West Africa will have access to essential services, including clean water, food and medical care [ more ]

The greatest gift a mother could ask for

As the Red Cross volunteers approach the house, Suneetha Tharushani proudly pulls out her daughter’s last health record.

Just a few months ago Suneetha’s four year old daughter was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. Knowing she had to do something, Suneetha enrolled in the Red Cross mother child health program this past January in Galle, Sri Lanka. Although only a few months later, Suneetha is already seeing results that would make any mother smile; her daughter is gaining weight, her test results are better and she is happier and more energetic.



Child malnutrition rates in Sri Lanka are staggering. Nearly 40 per cent of children under five are underweight, with 30 per cent falling within the severely malnourished category.

The Canadian Red Cross, in partnership with the Sri Lankan Red Cross, is combating child malnutrition through grassroots community based health interventions. Maternal health programs offer weekly home visits, cooking demonstrations, weighing clinics and nutritional information. In addition, mothers are taught how to grow nutritious food in their own home gardens.

“For me the most helpful part of this program is learning how to grow and prepare nutritious food for my baby,” says Suneetha. “I am going to keep doing what the Red Cross advises me because I am seeing results. My child is already putting on some weight.”

Community involvement is a key component to the success of this initiative. In this village just outside of Galle there are a dozen trained local Red Cross volunteers working with the over 110 local mothers. This numbers continue to grow as more mothers hear about the success of the program.

“This work is important to us,” says Community Based Health Volunteer Samahtha Gamage. “The people we are helping are our friends, our neighbours and our family.”

When asked if they would like to continue working in the field of health all of the dozen volunteers smile and eagerly reply yes. Some of the girls say they would one day, like to pursue a career as a midwife. But for today, their focus remains on working to ensure the success of this program.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Canadian donors,” adds Samahtha. “This is a good service we are providing, and we are already beginning to see a big difference in the health of the children.”

From local volunteers, to Red Cross staff, to mothers involved in the program, this sentiment of gratitude is echoed across the village.

“The Red Cross has given me the information I need to help my child grow up healthy and strong,” says Sunethra Malini whose two year old son Sithum is also enrolled in the program. “As a mother – that is the greatest gift I could ever ask for.” [ more ]

For more info about these and other projects you make possible, visit www.redcross.ca.