Lane Bunkers, former CRS country representative in Guatemala, and an instrumental figure in our launching of the Global Solidarity Partnership in Santa Rosa, is now serving in the same capacity in Ethiopia. Here's the latest on his role in fighting that country's drought.
From Catholic News Service...
NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services has been working with aid agencies to respond to the Ethiopian food crisis brought on by drought. Lane Bunkers, CRS country representative in Ethiopia, told Catholic News Service in an e-mail Sept. 16 that CRS signed a $53.4 million agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide nearly 3 million drought-affected Ethiopians with emergency food assistance over the next few months. He said the largest challenge is gaining access to food for distribution. Food is unavailable to purchase locally in Ethiopia. "Emergency rations and feeding provided to date by the Ethiopian government and aid agencies have exhausted the majority of food staples available locally in the country. We are now waiting for additional food to arrive from the United States," said Bunkers. CRS and USAID also are working to move 165 tons of corn-soy blend from Djibouti, which Bunkers said will be distributed in September to pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly.
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