To help children in the Sahel region of Africa, ArtRebels store owner Sarah Hvass took part in an evening of charity arranged by UNICEF. The event included stand-up comedy, musical performances by Nikolaj Nørlund, Rockwood and Fosfor, and an auction where Sarah’s work amongst others was auctioned off to raise much-needed funds. The evening brought in close to €2000.

As the hunger season begins in the Sahel region, UNICEF has launched a massive fundraising campaign to provide aid to over one million children at risk of dying from malnutrition. Many countries in the Sahel region face a triple threat including drought, high food prices and political  instability.

“What we want to do is to draw the world’s attention to the plight of the children in the Sahel. We want to make sure that people are aware of what’s happening before it’s too late,” says UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault.

Over 15 million people in Sahel region are directly affected by the crisis. And although the people of the Sahel are resilient, their position has been weakened by successive emergencies. The region suffered droughts in 2005 and 2010, and many families were forced to sell their livestock, pull children out of school, borrow money and get by with less food.

UNICEF estimates that $120 million is needed to feed the one million children under the age of five who will need lifesaving treatment for severe malnutrition. Just 32% of that need has been met so far.