To Provide Urgently Needed Aid to Malnourished Children in Ethiopia
October 15, 2021 - As drought and conflict in Ethiopia’s northern region continues, children are bearing the brunt of the impact. UNICEF reports that up to 100,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition over the next year – a tenfold increase compared to the prior year. As part of its commitment to help children in communities located near wildlife areas, Elephant Cooperation is announcing Elephants to the Rescue: Mission Ethiopia. Elephant Cooperation is donating $110,000 to UNICEF USA in support of UNICEF’s ongoing nutrition programs for children in Ethiopia. This donation will provide enough Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic-Foods (RUTF) to reach over 2,500 children facing severe acute malnutrition.
“When we learned of this humanitarian crisis, and in particular, the plight of the children in northern Ethiopia, we wanted to find a way to help,” commented Scott Struthers, the founder of Elephant Cooperation. “In keeping with our mission of helping communities living in or near wildlife areas, we contacted UNICEF to direct this critical aid to the children living near elephants in northern Ethiopia.”
The elephants Struthers is referring to are normally located in the Kafta-Shiraro National Park, where elephants typically migrate from neighboring Eritrea. Because of the conflict, the elephants have remained north this year. “Elephants are remarkably smart and sensitive. They know enough not to approach a dangerous area,” remarked Struthers. “Our hearts go out to the children and their families suffering in Ethiopia. We want the people living near elephants to know that we care about them and, through our support of UNICEF, create a positive association with wildlife conservation,” says Struthers.
You can help support Elephants to the Rescue: Mission Ethiopia by going to www.elephantcooperation.com/ethiopia
About Elephant Cooperation
Elephant Cooperation takes a “cooperative” approach of researching, vetting and funding organizations with existing programs to collaborate with the shared mission of saving the African elephant. Our goal is to create healthy, balanced, self-generating communities where both animals and people live in harmony. The initiatives include elephant rescue and rehabilitation, community commerce and sustainability, frontline defenders, childhood education and wildlife awareness, and habitat conservation.
About The United Nations Children’s Fund
The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit unicefusa.org.