BAPTIST WORLD ALLIANCE

INFORMATION SERVICE

Wendy Ryan, Director, Communications Division

Denton Lotz, General Secretary

November 15, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Our people are forced to eat roots and leaves (by Paul Montacute)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BWA) — Baptist World Aid has reissued its appeal to assist those suffering from the drought in Southern Africa.

 · Our people are forced to eat roots and leaves.  · Mothers are being forced to scrabble in the dirt to find roots, and pluck any leaves from the trees, to find some way of feeding their children!  · Maize is being eaten green from the stalk, meaning that it has gone by harvest time!  · Women will trade anything to get food for their families, including their bodies.  · A women suffering from HIV/Aids, had not eaten for days, and collapsed and died on my own front porch.  · People fight with animals when looking for water.

These were some of the horror stories presented to Baptist World Aid director, Paul Montacute, during a recent visit to Southern Africa, where the impact of the drought is worsening. The UN World Food Programs latest estimate is that at the peak of the crisis, 14.4 million people in the six affected countries will need food aid, 25% of the population.

Baptist groups in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are already working on programs to alleviate hunger and provide clean water. In some places it is the shortage of grain that is hindering their relief, and in others, it is the lack of funds to purchase food.

In response to many appeals for assistance from Baptist conventions and unions in Southern Africa, BWAid held a Round Table meeting on the drought in Johannesburg, South Africa, November 9 – 11. All countries were represented apart from Zimbabwe, as all four BWA member bodies had difficulties in getting the necessary papers to travel, though some contributed to the meeting by email.

In addition to BWAid Director, Paul Montacute, who chaired the meeting, also present were representatives from Baptist mission and relief agencies, including Andrew North, BMS World Mission, UK; David Harding, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, USA; Regina Claas, European Baptist Mission, Germany; and Frank Makoro, Dorcus Aid. Other agencies in Australia, Canada and the USA supported the Round Table but were unable to attend.

Each country shared information on its specific needs, and then gave information on the response that they had made to feed the hungry, as Baptist communities. A declaration issued at the end of the meeting “urges the world family of Baptists to give to BWAid’s appeal”, but first emphasized their own commitment to support the appeal, to seek and give funds and continue their programs of the provision of food and clean water.

BWAid has already received project requests totaling nearly US $ 1,000,000, but has only been able to give grants of $50,000 so far!

The Round Table faced two other major issues. Each country representative spoke of the impact the HIV / Aids is having on their people and their country. The average adult prevalence rates for these countries is 24%, and this exacerbates the food shortages, and has continuing implications for the long term and food security. In Malawi just 60% of children, under the age of 15, live with their biological parents, 21% live just with their mother, 2% with their father, and 16% with neither their birth mother or father!

The other issue was the politicization of food, and stories were told of food being withheld from people for political and other reasons. Some countries had also disposed of their reserves of food, thus adding to the crisis. The meeting asked the Baptist World Alliance to consider making representations to the governments concerned and the United Nations.

The Round Table will continue to operate as a ‘Drought Task Force,’ and will share information, provide updates on needs and programs, and encourage partnerships with each other and other Christian groups. Few of these Baptist groups belong to ecumenical and evangelical networks, and so were not benefiting from funds and food being made available.

“It is therefore vitally important that the worldwide family of Baptists step forward and provide the finances necessary to help these unions and conventions care for those in need,” said Paul Montacute, BWAid Director.

Donations can be made to the following: –

BWAid Appeal addresses – please designate for ‘S African Drought’

Baptist World Aid Baptist World Alliance 405 North Washington Street Falls Church, VA22046, USA Phone: +1 703 790 8980 Fax: +1 703 790 5719 Email: Contacts: Paul Montacute or Lee Hickman

A US tax receipt will be issued.

Donations may also be made by Visa or MasterCard, in US dollars. State the Gift Amount in US$; Card No; Exp. Date; Signature of donor; and name as it appears on credit card.

———————————————- Cheques in British Currency Baptist Union of Great Britain Baptist House Box 44, 129 Broadway Didcot, Oxon, OX11 8RT England, UK Phone: +44 1235 517700 Fax: +44 1235 517715 Email: Contact: Philip Putman —————————————— Germany and Rest of Europe. This is a BWA Bank Account

Spar-und-Kreditbank Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden Postfach 1262 61282 Bad Homburg v.d.H. BLZ 500 921 00 Konto-Nr.791-03 Germany

——————————————— Checks in Canadian currency

Canadian Baptist Ministries 7185 Millcreek Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5N 5R4 Canada Phone: +1 905 821 3533 Fax: +1 905 826 3441 Email: ———————————————- Ches in Australian currency

Baptist World Aid – Australia Locked Bag 122 Frenchs Forest NSW 1640 Australia Phone: +61 2 9451 1199 Fax: +61 2 9452 4720 Email: Contact: Les Fussell

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