The Red Cross St. Maarten has announced that it has joined the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), via the Netherlands Red Cross in an emergency appeal to assist millions facing hunger in the area known as the Horn of Africa due to severe drought.
The Red Cross St. Maarten is appealing to the general public to join the effort by sending monetary donations to the St. Maarten Red Cross Windward Islands Bank and RBTT Bank accounts.
President of Parliament drs. Gracita Arrindell said that the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the need for urgent funding to carry out critical humanitarian efforts in the Horn of Africa and assist the millions suffering from famine and drought in the region.
"What is going on is a human catastrophe. An estimated 11.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. For example, that would be in comparison to a Caribbean population of 33 million, 1/3 of our people would be facing a famine. This is a real tragedy of what is happening in Africa.
"I also appeal to our nation to help and contribute what you can by making a donation to the St. Maarten Red Cross. As a small island nation that faced our own natural disasters, we must never forget, and assist other countries whenever we can, no matter how large they are in size of population.
"If you are able to help our fellow human beings in need, check with the two banks where accounts are open to accept donations, namely the Windward Island Bank and RBTT," President of Parliament Hon. Gracita Arrindell said on Wednesday.
Millions in Ethiopia, Dijbouti, Kenya and Somalia are facing severe food shortages with rates of malnutrition and related deaths having reached alarming levels in many parts of the region.
Somalia is the worst affected country.