Long Road to Normal:
Mali 2012
As the food crisis continues across West Africa Mali faces a
double challenge.
Jihadist rebels have taken over the North and the local
population, both Moslems and Christians are at risk of violence and death, not
only from starvation but now also at the hands of the rebels.
Sisly Niaga is blind but along with six others he was able
to escape. He walked three days and
three nights, with just a bottle of water and eating nothing. He spoke of acts of violence against women
and his sister Miriam, and other atrocities.
He called the rebels devils.
Sisly is now in Bamako, the capital of Mali, and he is
safe. But for the most vulnerable, the
young and elderly, those unable to make the journey - they now face the
unthinkable.
But there is the possibility of hope for these people. The Red Cross in Mali has plans to transport
and distribute 312 metric tonnes of rice over the next three months, until the
next harvest.
They will cross rebel lines and risk everything to save
these people. But, as in the words of
Aboul Cisse, the president of the Red Cross in Mali, “If they do not get this
aid they face a catastrophe, people will die of hunger.”
Each one of us can continue to help. By giving the little we can we will know we
have done our part for this crisis. We
will pass on 100% of your gift to the Red Cross in Mali.
Donations can be made to:
Community Partnership/Sahel, PO Box 2172, Clayton, GA 30525, USA
On behalf of the people in Mali, thank you.
