Dear Mr. Antony Wilson,

We recently told you about a growing food crisis in West Africa. Today, the situation continues to deteriorate. We need the help of all Canadians to reduce the needless suffering and to save lives.

Children and their families across West Africa’s Sahel region fight for survival in the midst of harrowing circumstances. Drought, failed crops, increased food prices and political instability have compounded an already difficult situation, sending the region into a state of severe emergency.

“Without immediate assistance, silently over the coming months, this disaster across the Sahel will claim more lives than the Asian tsunami or the earthquake in Haiti.”

–Mark Wentling, Country Director,
Plan Burkina Faso

Haïssatou is a farmer with four children. She has spent the last four days at a mobile nutrition centre with her two-year-old daughter, who is severely malnourished.

“I gave her a porridge made from corn, which was the only thing I had left, but it hasn’t helped,” says Haïssatou.

Imagine being a parent unable to find enough food to feed your young child.

And this family is just one of many. Over 18 million people across West Africa are affected and more than 1 million children are facing severe acute malnutrition.

We have seen these warning signs before. The situation requires immediate action to avert a repeat of the catastrophic food crisis in the Horn of Africa last year. We need your help today.

"We learned then that the biggest risk is to wait, acting earlier saves lives, prevents misery and costs far less in international aid.”

– Robert Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada.

Right now, clean water, nutritious food, basic sanitation and primary healthcare are urgently needed.

The time for warnings has passed. It is time to act now. Today, the HUMANITARIAN COALITION is launching a national emergency appeal to bring immediate and lasting relief to those suffering in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Gambia, Senegal and parts of Nigeria and Cameroon.

With your help, lives can be saved.

Across the region HUMANITARIAN COALITION members are on the ground providing immediate relief to children and families while also establishing long-term projects to build community resilience to drought and food scarcity and to address the root causes of food insecurity.

The HUMANITARIAN COALITION is Canada’s unified choice for helping those in need. Together, we can save and improve the lives of children and families in dire need.

Your generous gift today of $100, $150 or $250 will help rush nutritious food, clean water, vital medicines and shelter materials to those most vulnerable to disease and death.

Together, we can save even more lives. Simply click here to donate!

Thank you for your assistance,