Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay recently met with representatives from charity Christian Aid to show his support for its Christmas Appeal, ‘Enough for Everyone’. The appeal aims to raise much-needed funds for people experiencing hunger and malnutrition in South Sudan, in particular for mothers and children.
For every pound the public give to the appeal, the UK Government will also give a pound. This doubles the support for families struggling to feed themselves, meaning even more mothers and infants under-five in South Sudan will be saved from the life-threatening effects of malnutrition.
Earlier this year, famine was declared in parts of South Sudan, the first time it has been declared anywhere in six years. Although urgent humanitarian response helped to prevent it from spreading, more people are now facing extreme hunger than ever before with approximately 50% of the population still in urgent need of food. Families have often been forced to eat wild foods like water lilies and drink unsafe water in a desperate bid to survive.
Commenting, Steve said:
“Hunger isn’t inevitable, as there is more than enough food in the world to feed everyone. Yet, every day, thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people don’t have enough to eat.”
“I am supporting Christian Aid’s Christmas Appeal this year which is raising vital funds to help hungry women and children in South Sudan. I would urge the people of St Austell and Newquay to consider donating to the appeal if they can. The Department for International Development will be matching every £1 donated and this will double the impact of the appeal.”
Commenting, Simon Kirkland, Christian Aid’s UK Parliamentary and Political Adviser, said:
“We are extremely grateful to Steve for supporting our Christmas Appeal. The situation is desperate and we welcome any donations that the people of St Austell and Newquay can give. Just £5 could provide enough food for a family for four days, and £150 could provide ten families with fishing gear to get food rich in protein.”
Commenting, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:
“Conflict can leave many families in desperate need, often without enough food and water. Since famine was declared in South Sudan earlier this year, the UK has played a leading role in the vital humanitarian response, including giving food assistance to over half a million people.
“Christian Aid’s ‘Enough for Everyone’ appeal will provide lifesaving nutrition programs to thousands more people still facing the reality of food insecurity, transforming the lives of malnourished women and children in South Sudan.”
Christian Aid partner organisation SPEDP (Support for Peace and Education and Development Programme) in South Sudan is providing cash vouchers to people struggling with acute malnutrition so they can buy essential and healthy food in local markets to help their families recover. Without this support, hundreds of families wouldn’t survive.
All donations made to the appeal between 6 November 2017 and 5 February 2018 will be matched up to £2.7 million and will fund Christian Aid’s work in South Sudan.