With Clooney assist, US aid groups team up on Africa crisis

FILE - In this April 13, 2017, file photo, Yemenis present documents in order to receive food rations provided by a local charity, in Sanaa, Yemen. Eight of the largest U.S.-based aid groups are joining together in a new campaign to address what the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years. More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in nine African nations and Yemen, but Richard Stearns, president of Federal Way, Washington-based World Vision, says it has been overshadowed amid the controversies surrounding President Donald Trump's administration. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) FILE - In this April 13, 2017, file photo, Yemenis present documents in order to receive food rations provided by a local charity, in Sanaa, Yemen. Eight of the largest U.S.-based aid groups are joining together in a new campaign to address what the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years. More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in nine African nations and Yemen, but Richard Stearns, president of Federal Way, Washington-based World Vision, says it has been overshadowed amid the controversies surrounding President Donald Trump's administration. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File)

By Associated Press July 17, 2017 3 min read

SEATTLE (AP) – Eight of the world’s biggest aid groups are joining together in a new campaign to get more attention in the U.S. for what the United Nations calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years.

More than 20 million people are at risk of famine in nine African nations and Yemen, according to the United Nations. But Richard Stearns, president of Federal Way, Washington-based World Vision, says the situation has been overshadowed amid the controversies surrounding President Donald Trump’s administration.

“We have seen that America is very distracted, and I think you have another phenomena – that some Americans are just so fed up with the news,” Stearns told The Seattle Times .

Instead of competing for donations, the organizations – U.S.-based groups or the U.S. arms of international charities – are banding together in a fundraising appeal launching this week. The Global Emergency Response Coalition ‘s effort is backed by $1 million in matching donations each from the PepsiCo Foundation and the investment firm BlackRock, with additional corporate sponsors that include Twitter and Google.

Actor George Clooney narrated a video pitch for the campaign.