Some have real problems

Figure out your summer vacation plans yet? Maybe you’re worried about how much it will cost. Maybe you’re worried about bigger-city concerns; about deaths or injuries by terrorism, by drunk drivers, by violent crime. But in the end, we most worry about our own: about ourselves our families and our own safety.

Right now, the United Nations says it is facing a serious humanitarian disaster in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeastern Nigeria. In fact, the United Nations says it is facing the largest humanitarian crisis in its history, with 20 million people facing starvation. That’s equal to more than half the population of Canada.

In March, Stephen O’Brien, the UN’s under-secretarygeneral for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator, put it simply: “without collective and coordinated 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.

Maybe you’re busy worrying that you just won’t have the best vacation ever this year.

Well, there are people with much bigger things to worry about. And you can do something about it.

Amherst (N.S.) Daily News