Starving for compassion - 140 hour famine

As NZ prepares for our annual chocolate festival (Easter), the world faces it’s worst humanitarian crisis since 1945. The United Nations recently announced that over 20 million people are facing famine or a credible risk of famine across South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and Yemen. This includes 1.4 million children who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition – children silently starving, desperate for our compassion. No one should suffer like this, especially children, but since they are we need to respond.

Aid workers are significantly under-resourced (and risking their lives among conflict) to provide enough food, water, shelter and medical assistance for those in need. To support the work of UNICEF New Zealand, World Vision and Tearfund as they respond to this crisis, I’ve decided to fast for 140 hours (no food, just water and oxygen) from 5 pm, April 5th – 1 pm, April 11th. During this time you might find me dwelling in a tent in Waimate or Timaru. The real agony of starvation, sickness and dehydration that these people are facing will remain foreign to me, but I hope that this challenge will root me deeper in compassion and inspire others to extend a hand as well. Please consider supporting the cause by donating money, learning more, and by sharing this appeal with others. With much gratitude, Ollie.

What your donation can provide:

- $15 can provide water purification tablets

- $38 can buy enough therapeutic food to save the life of a malnourished child

- $65 can provide a month of emergency food

- $185 can buy healthcare equipment

Where you can learn more:

- UNICEF - https://www.unicef.org.nz/famine-1

- World Vision - https://www.worldvision.org.nz/ways-to-give/children-in-crisis

- Tearfund (with NZ radio interviews): https://www.tearfund.org.nz/South-Sudan-Refugee-Appeal

- “Worst humanitarian crisis since 1945” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/11/world-faces-worst-humanitarian-crisis-since-1945-says-un-official

- “What is a famine?” http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/dying-hunger-famine-170228053809074.html

P.S. If you find me in the area, please say Gidday, Kia Ora, and offer a little encouragement. You’re also invited to go hungry for a while as well..! If you want to get in touch, you can contact me on 027-942-7472.