Against the 'silent famine'

Against the 'silent famine'

SYDNEY — A fundraising concert is to help people suffering from famine in Eritrea and the Sudan thanks to the determination of Sydney teenager Kirsty Packham. Concerned that some 27 million people are at threat of starvation in Africa, Kirsty contacted Community Aid Abroad, and with their help, "Rock Against the Silent Famine" was born.

The concert is to be held at the Harbourside Brasserie in the Rocks on Friday, May 31. Tickets are $10 and can be booked by ringing 281 6799 or bought at the door.

Featured artists will be The Clouds, Grant McLennon, Small Knitted Cardies (a combo of Falling Joys' Susie Higgie and Catherine Wheel's Andrea Croft) and Swordfish.

Kirsty explained why the concert is so important: "In the '84-'85 famine, thousands died from the 400-kilometre walk from Ethiopia to the Sudan in search of food. This year food shortages in Eritrea and the Sudan are just as severe ... It hasn't rained since October 1989, but with all the media attention on the Gulf War, we have heard almost nothing!"

CAA, in cooperation with the Eritrean Relief Association, has also assisted the 400,000 refugees who fled from the Ethiopian government's military campaign against the Eritrean liberation movement. For further details of CAA's work in Eritrea, telephone (03) 419 7111.

From GLW issue 14