Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Focusing on the drought in Ethiopia from the South Coast

Help is coming from a South Coast agency for those affected by the drought in Ethiopia
ShelterBox
Help is coming from a South Coast agency for those affected by the drought in Ethiopia

Help for some of the millions affected by the current drought and humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa is coming from an international relief agency based on the South Coast.

Ethiopia is in the middle of one of the worst droughts for 50 years.

Millions of people have lost food, water and livelihoods and are taking desperate measures to survive, with more than one million people leaving their homes in search of food, water and pasture, Kerri Murray, the President of ShelterBox USA - which is headquartered in Santa Barbara - told KCLU.

"We know there's a huge crisis and people are facing the threat of starvation.

"There's not enough access to safe water for drinking and cooking and basic things like cleaning,

"And there's massive displacement as people are on the hunt for food and water.

"So people are facing several different crises all at once," said Murray.

They’re delivering emergency shelter to some of the many in need in the region.

"What we are going to be doing is bringing in thousands of sets of emergency shelter."

Caroline joined KCLU in October 2020. She won LA Press Club's Audio Journalist of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023.

Since joining the station she's won 7 Golden Mike Awards, 4 Los Angeles Press Club Awards and 2 National Arts & Entertainment Awards.

She started her broadcasting career in the UK, in both radio and television for BBC News, 95.8 Capital FM and Sky News and was awarded the Prince Philip Medal for her services to radio and journalism in 2007.

She has lived in California for ten years and is both an American and British citizen - and a very proud mom to her daughter, Elsie.