Emergency appeal from mission in Kenya

Fr Steven Ochieng, a priest working with the St Paul's Missionary Community on the Kenya-Ethiopia border has sent an urgent appeal for funds through the charity New Ways, to save the lives of a group of Dassanech families who have been severely affected by drought. About 40 of their animals have been dying of starvation each day for the past two weeks.

The prolonged drought, combined with the flooding of the Omo River, has prevented these nomads from accessing their normal grazing fields in the delta therefore worsening the situation. The Dassanech people are almost totally dependent on their animals.

If it is not resolved, Fr Steven says the situation will escalate very quickly to famine, particularly endangering lives of the very young and elderly. It will also lead to violence, he warns, increasing existing conflicts in the region.

Fr Steven hopes to raise £5,000 to provide hay for the animals.

Please help save lives. thank you. To make a donation please go to: http://mydonate.bt.com/events/emergencyaid/107158

New Ways supports the work of the St Paul's Missionary Community. The charity is run entirely by volunteers. Every penny you donate to this appeal will go to buying hay for the livestock.