A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Ten million people are facing famine. It's the first time the UN has declared a famine since 1984 when approximately eight million people in Ethiopia and Eritrea faced starvation. That famine, brought on by drought and exacerbated by internal conflict, caused at least 200,000 people to die from starvation.
There has been some speculation about the causes of this famine. Local conflict, displacement, migration and drought have all played a role. But recently, Achim Steiner, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, has also pointed the finger at climate change and the impact global warming is having on the number of extreme weather events around the world. We must, he said "realize that climate change plays an increasingly important factor in determining weather variability."
Over the past year, millions of people on many continents have been displaced as a result of extreme weather. In the past 12 months, Australia and the U.S. have been devastated by flooding, hurricanes and cyclones. In Pakistan, last year's monsoon rains were so devastating that almost 2,000 people have died and, according to the Pakistani government, nearly 18 million people were displaced or impacted. Recent estimates are that 800,000 people are still without permanent housing. This year's monsoon will arrive soon.
Is it surprising, then, that in a corner of the world where the ecosystem is already fragile, and where multiple stressors are already taking their toll on a weak and vulnerable population, we see the devastating impacts of drought and food insecurity and scarcity?
We have a responsibility to respond to this crisis in three ways. First, we should contribute what we can to the immediate relief effort. Then we need to work with every level of government to reduce our own carbon footprint. We still have a choice between whether to experience a little climate change or a lot. The difference will be huge — and it will largely be felt by the world's poor. Finally, we need to ensure that our federal government invests in adaptation and disaster-preparedness programs in vulnerable countries to build resiliency and guard against future disasters. Because of our current and historically high emissions, we have overwhelmingly contributed to these impacts and we have a responsibility to assist those who are suffering from them.
As it has in the past, Canada's government has pledged to match donations collected by relief agencies. Donations received between July 6 and September 16 will be matched.
Many organizations and agencies are accepting donations, and we've listed some of them here. Please check carefully to ensure that your donations are going to an organization that is able to distribute food and relief where it is most needed.
The Humanitarian Coalition is a network of five of Canada's relief agencies, Care Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Oxfam Canada, Save the Children and Plan Canada. UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and the Canadian Red Cross are also accepting donations.