The bishops’ overseas aid agency Cafod has launched a £3 million emergency appeal to help the millions of people in Ethiopia who face a devastating drought following two failed rainy seasons. More than 10 million people across the country are in dire need of food, clean water and basic sanitation. Patricia Wall, Cafod’s representative in Ethiopia, said: “Ethiopia faces a food shortage that has left millions without enough food to survive the months ahead. The funding will allow us to escalate our ongoing emergency response with local partners, who are already on the front line getting assistance to where it is needed most.” Cafod’s local partners have been responding to the crisis since last year, reaching people with emergency food assistance and clean water. The £3 million will allow Cafod to increase its emergency response work across the worst-affected areas. “The infrastructure is in place and we are working with the full support of the Ethiopian government, but without the funding we can only reach a fraction of those who need help,” Ms Wall said. The drought has hit some of the poorest people in the country: families who rely heavily on subsistence farming and livestock. Two failed rainy seasons have exhausted people’s ability to cope. Cafod said it had run out of options. Ethiopia’s long rains are due in a month’s time, but even if normal rainfall occurs, it will take time for people to harvest their crops and replenish their livestock. “People have already lost everything, and have no reserves left. These will be critical months,” Ms Wall said. No place for Amnesty in schools, say Irish Catholics Catholic schools in Ireland are being urged not to invite Amnesty International to speak to their pupils. Schools needed to “draw the line”, Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute told the Irish Catholic newspaper. “If you are a group campaigning aggressively for abortion, something that is completely contrary to a Catholic ethos, then you don’t have a right to visit Catholic schools and attempt to gain support for your organisation,” she said. Her views were echoed by Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin. “In general, I think we have to be very careful that any groups we invite into our schools reflect the ethos of the school,” the bishop said. “There is the notion of giving everybody a fair crack at the whip but essentially you either stand for something or you don’t. The school board has clear responsibility that any group that comes into the school to make a presentation is coming from a point of view that is consistent with the ethos of the school.” Cora Sherlock of the Pro-Life Campaign said: “I don’t think promoting the end of a human being’s life ... is something that children should be exposed to.”