"What can Pembrokeshire do when disaster strikes and hunger hits hard?"asks Tearfund's Voluntary Media Officer for Pembrokeshire, Sharron Hardwick in response to last week's horrific disasters and the food crisis in East Africa.

"Pembrokeshire can make a difference by supporting Tearfund, in giving, acting and praying."

Millions of people across South East Asia struggle to cope after a series of natural disasters struck the region. The Indonesian island of Sumatra was hit by a major earthquake, killing over 700 people. The Philippines is reeling after a typhoon caused massive flooding, claiming hundreds of lives, making more than a million people homeless. Tearfund are working with partners and local churches in immediate response to these disasters.

"By supporting Tearfund's Disaster Fund, Pembrokeshire people can help tackle the fallout of disasters and support our work on the bigger picture too." explains Sharron Hardwick.

Tearfund support local churches at the heart of the response to a disaster; their buildings used as emergency shelters or feeding centres, their people reaching out with generosity to friends and neighbours who have lost everything. Tearfund educate and encourage the local church, preparing for looming disasters; holding governments to account to agree policies which fund activities that reduce the impact of disasters and save lives.

In addition to their Disaster Fund, Tearfund's year old 'East Africa Food Crisis' appeal, that enabled supporters to provide emergency food aid and longer term livelihood support to thousands of people across East Africa, is more necessary than ever. Twenty five years after the East Africa famine, a new food crisis escalates in the region. 20 million people are suffering hunger in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda and are in need of emergency aid, says the World Food Programme.

A disastrous cocktail of factors like:lack of rain bringing successive droughts; crops failing; livestock perishing and food prices increasing have combined to leave millions in jeopardy. Climatic changes have led to unreliable rainy seasons and insecurity, uprooting vulnerable people and hampering aid responses.

• In Ethiopia, an estimated 6.2 million require emergency food assistance.
• In Kenya, 3.8 million Kenyans, mostly in rural areas, face high to extreme food insecurity, up from 2.6 million in March.
• In Somalia, half the population (3.8 million people) need help to stay alive.
• In Uganda's Karamoja region, 1.15 million people (95 per cent of the area's population) face food insecurity.

"Please help Tearfund continue supporting people struck by hunger and disasters. God loves us and wants us to love and care for others. Why not organise a fund-raising event, or hold a prayer meeting supporting people who so desperately need our help? Together we can make a difference." concludes Sharron.

Support Tearfund locally: visit HELP charity shop, in the centre of Johnston. Opening hours: 10am - 3.30pm Monday - Friday; 10am - 12 noon Saturdays.

Visit Broad Haven Baptist Church's second Alternative Christmas Fair in Broadhaven Village Hall on Saturday, 21st November.

For more details and to give to Tearfund's Disaster Fund and East Africa Food Crisis Appeal visit www.tearfund.org or call 0845 355 8355.

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