This is my first December as CEO of Mercy Corps, and I am so inspired by the more than 864 Mercy Corps supporters who’ve already taken action for a better future by making their year-end gifts.
After a year of crisis, turmoil and uncertainty, that’s more than 864 people answering the big question, "So, what next?" with a resounding, "We help." We help thousands of Yemenis stock food as the next hunger crisis takes root. We help thousands of women, men and children in Guatemala after two hurricanes devastated parts of Central America last month. We help thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in Ethiopia find shelter and urgently needed healthcare in Sudan.
And you can be part of this community of helpers. Your
first-time gift of $10 or more
can help us go twice as far for people in urgent need, thanks to a generous group of Mercy Corps supporters who have contributed to our Matching Gift Challenge Fund to encourage people like you to match their gifts up to $300,000. Make your matching gift before tonight’s midnight deadline.
In the Um Rakuba reception camp in Sudan, medical staff prepare a Mercy Corps clinic set up for Ethiopian refugees who have fled violence. Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images.
The situations developing in Ethiopia and Yemen are especially worrisome. More than 50,000 refugees, most women and children, have already fled across the border from Ethiopia into Sudan. Mercy Corps is providing health care in Sudan’s Um Rakuba camp for people fleeing conflict. Dr. Arif Noor, our Country Director for Sudan, recently shared that,
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"Um Rakuba camp hasn’t been in operation for 20 years. It’s in urgent need of repair as well as supplies, and has a maximum capacity of 20,000. That pales in comparison to the number of Ethiopians who may seek refuge here in the coming weeks."
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Just across the Red Sea, Yemenis now face the most severe hunger crisis in years. Ongoing conflict, skyrocketing food prices, cuts to humanitarian aid and economic sanctions are creating the perfect storm for mass hunger. Nearly one in two Yemenis depend on food aid to survive in these conditions, and we expect that to get worse in the coming year. Steve Claborne, our Country Director for Yemen describes a bleak situation,
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"After nearly six years of conflict, families have little to no reserves left to fall back on and the consequences are likely to be catastrophic."
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I know this is difficult to read. But working together with the local communities from Sudan to Yemen, from Guatemala to Afghanistan, we can make a difference. Every farmer who can provide for their family is a reason to act. Every community that can access clean water is worth the effort. Every life made better is a reason to pitch in. Because even in the toughest moments of crisis, there is always something we can do to help.
Support the communities where we work in more than 40 countries around the globe as people are giving everything they’ve got to survive crisis, conflict and natural disaster. Please, make a year-end contribution to Mercy Corps today.
Just last year, Mercy Corps reached more than 600,000 people in Ethiopia and more than 350,000 in Sudan with humanitarian assistance. In Yemen, we’ve reached more than 1.1 million people over the last decade with food and other aid. We are making a difference, and we can do so much more — with your support.
Whether you can give this year or not, thank you for your continued support of Mercy Corps’ work. Your dedication helps us to build a shared future where everyone can thrive.
Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer
We know you’re hearing a lot from us these days. The reason is simple: Every dollar we raise right now helps the people we work with protect their families and improve their lives. If you’ve already made your gift or would rather not get our year-end emails, click here to stop receiving email until January.
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