A global crisis, and we can help

This appeared in the Amherst (N.S.) News:

Figure out your summer vacation plans yet? Maybe you’re thinking of taking the family for a week in a cabin near the beach and hoping for good weather. Perhaps you’re planning on a trip to London, or travelling south to the U.S. Maybe you’re worried about how much it will cost. Or maybe, if you are planning to go further afield, you’re worried about bigger-city concerns; terrorism, drunk drivers, violent crime.

Right now, the United Nations says it is facing a serious humanitarian disaster in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeastern Nigeria. In fact, the UN says it is facing the largest humanitarian crisis in its entire history, with 20 million people facing starvation.

In March, Stephen O’Brien, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, put it simply: “Without collective and co-ordinated global efforts, people will simply starve to death … many more will suffer and die from disease.” How much help is needed? “To be precise,” O’Brien said, “we need $4.4 billion by July.” Two weeks ago, the Canadian government said it would match donations for famine relief — meaning every dollar you donate turns into two.

We often find time and money for those who are enough like ourselves that we can walk around in their shoes, such as helping Fort McMurray wildfire victims. Maybe you’re busy worrying that you just won’t have the best vacation ever this year. Well, there are people with much bigger worries. And you can do something about it.