.ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — As international aid agencies scramble for donations for East Africa's famine victims, one multi-million-dollar fundraising drive has come from an unexpected source: a West African schoolboy.
Andrew Adansi-Bonnah is 11. And during his eight-week school holiday, he wants to raise 20 million Ghanaian cedis — or about $13 million — for his cause by walking office to office collecting donations in Ghana's capital, Accra.
Since starting the drive Aug. 1, he has collected about $6,500 in pledges for the fund he started after consulting with UNICEF and the U.N.'s World Food Program. His father, schoolteacher Samuel Adansi-Bonnah, donated his entire July salary of about $500.
Andrew said he was inspired by images of skeletal babies and stick-thin children he saw on television, which led him to name his campaign Save Somali Children from Hunger.
"There are hungry people in Ghana but our situation is not as desperate as the people of Somalia," said the skinny, soft-spoken boy.
The United Nations estimates more than 12 million people across East Africa need food aid because of a long-running drought that has sent more than 100,000 people fleeing to refugee camps. Somalia has been hit the hardest. U.S. officials estimate the famine has killed 29,000 children in the past three months
How To Help
Tens of thousands of starving Somalis have flooded Mogadishu refugee camps in search of food as the nation fights East Africa's worst drought in 60 years and ruling militants who are blocking aid from western countries.
“There was no food, no help. There are kids dying left and right—I'm not exaggerating. They buried 12 on the day I visited,” said Jason Straziuso, a reporter for the Associated Press.
“The most touching thing so far has been when this small child waved at me yesterday. I stuck my head in her tent and she was lying, motionless, flies flying everywhere and she sort of stuck her head up and waved at me,” he said. “That put a lump in my throat because I don't know that she's going to get better, in fact I think she has a good chance of not getting better.”
African Union forces have launched an offensive to keep aid agencies safe as they bring food and supplies to the thousands of refugees in Mogadishu.
Below are organizations that are working on relief and recovery in the region:
International Medical Corps: The group has mobilized teams in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia -- three countries expected to bear the brunt of the drought -- to respond to this growing humanitarian crisis. Donate here.
Save the Children: Save the Children has launched a major humanitarian response in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, feeding tens of thousands of children, providing life-saving medical treatment, and getting clean water to remote communities. Donate here.
World Vision: World Vision has established 6-month response plans for Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. Donate here.
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross' disaster relief efforts help those affected by the drought and current humanitarian emergency in Horn of Africa. The group is working to develop community resilience to help mitigate the effects of future crises. Donate here.
US Association for UNHCR: UNHCR is working in Somalia and neighboring countries to provide security, shelter, medical care, food, clean water and basic necessities. Donate here.
Oxfam America: Oxfam has set up water and sanitation facilities in the camps and is providing therapeutic feeding to women and children, and distributing food aid. Donate here.
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