Counting Down: Nine days to 103DEC / Saturday 30 July - originally posted 21.7.2011

On Saturday 30 July, 103 The Eye is dedicating the entire day's broadcasting to raising awareness of the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal.

We've had warm weather across the East Midlands in recent weeks, but there's still food in the shops and water in our taps, rivers and streams but In the Horn of Africa there have been months of drought followed by the severest famine in living memory. In a daily worsening situation, millions of people are facing death.

So 103 The Eye is supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee and encouraging everyone to help by donating direct to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal.

All day on Saturday 30 July we'll be broadcasting interviews and information about the situation in Africa and we're asking you, our listeners, to share the day with us by telling us your life stories through your favorite music. Details about LIFE TRACKS are available here, on 103 The Eye and in the local press over the coming week. 

DON'T WAIT TO DONATE! 

But don't wait to donate - your money can be put to good use right now. Just follow the instructions in red on the side bar and help the DEC's member organisations to save lives immediately.

Saturday 30 July will be DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal day on 103 The Eye. We look forward to sharing the great day with you!

Originally posted 21.7.2011

 

103DEC Saturday 30 July AUDIO INTERVIEWS - originally posted 31.7.2011

Rev Andrew Barker used to work for and experienced drought & famine through relief work with Christian Aid in Burundi.

Rev Andrew Barker Sound bite
Rev Andrew Barker Interview 1
Rev Andrew Barker Interview 2

Phil Marshall has recently returned from working as a teacher with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Ethiopia.

Phil Marshall Sound bite 
Phil Marshall Interview 

 

Mark Butler is Head of Tearfund's Disaster Management Unit & has extensive operational aid experience in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere across the world.

Mark Butler Sound bite
Mark Butler Interview 1
Mark Butler Interview 2
Mark Butler Interview 3 

 

Anthony Herbert has 20 years involvement in the development project, Send a Cow.  

Anthony Herbert Sound bite

Anthony Herbert Interview 1

Anthony Herbert Interview 2

 

Bishop Christopher Boyle is now based in Leicester. Previously he helped crisis-manage famine response in Malawi when he was Bishop in that country.

Bishop Christopher Boyle Soundbite

Bishop Christopher Boyle Interview 1 

Bishop Christopher Boyle Interview 2 

Marie Molloy is Diocesan Manager for CAFOD based in Nottingham but whose area also covers Leicestershire, Derbyshire & Lincolnshire.

Marie Molloy Sound bite
Marie Molloy Interview 1
Marie Molloy Interview 2

 

Matthew Wingate comes from Leicester and is Program Funding Director for Save the Children. He was previously Crisis Emergency Advisor for that organisation & has extensive experience in Somalia, Kenya & Ethiopia.

Matthew Wingate Soundbite

Matthew Wingate Interview 1
Matthew Wingate Interview 2

Sarah Wilson is a senior member of Christian Aid's Humanitarian Assessment Team. Sarah's expertise is water and she has just returned from assessing the drought & water provision in Kenya.

Sarah Wilson Soundbite

Sarah Wilson Interview 1

Sarah Wilson Interview 2

Originally posted 31.7.2011

SOMALIA: First UNHCR airlift into Mogadishu - originally posted 9.8.2011

The UN refugee agency has flown aid to famine victims in Somalia's capital - its first airlift to war-torn Mogadishu for five years.

Some 100,000 people have arrived in the city in the last two months in search of food.

Insecurity makes it difficult for aid agencies to distribute materials.

The Islamist al-Shabab group was reported to have pulled out of the city on Saturday but its fighters can still be seen patrolling some areas. 

While the government has been celebrating what it called its "victory" over al-Shabab, BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says few people expect Mogadishu to be peaceful.

For the aid agencies, the city remains an environment full of challenges, he says.

For full story see BBC News.

Originally posted 9.8.2011