Canada announces over $73 million in funding to respond to drought in Horn of Africa
News release
April 26, 2022 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Canada is extremely concerned by the drought in the Horn of Africa and its impact on vulnerable populations already struggling as a result of poverty, insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. Severe drought conditions in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia could result in over 20 million people across the region needing emergency food assistance in 2022, which would be a 70% increase when compared to the severe drought in 2016 and 2017.
Today, at a high-level roundtable on the drought in the Horn of Africa, co-hosted by the European Union and the United Nations, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced that Canada will provide over $73 million in funding for gender-responsive humanitarian and development assistance to meet the needs of people in these three countries.
This funding will be provided to UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations to address both immediate and longer-term needs. With Canada’s ongoing support, these partners are helping to address hunger, acute malnutrition and other critical needs of crisis-affected populations in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
Quotes
“With every day that goes by without rain, conditions continue to deteriorate for millions of people in the Horn of Africa. Millions of people cannot meet their basic needs for food and clean water, with women and children most severely impacted. It is critical that we as a global community provide timely and quality humanitarian funding to reach people in need before the crisis reaches catastrophic levels. We will continue to work with our partners to provide much-needed relief and help the region’s efforts to avoid a catastrophic famine.”
- Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
Quick facts
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The Horn of Africa has faced 2 straight years of inadequate rainfall for its basic water, agricultural and livestock needs. This has had a devastating impact on the population as it is heavily dependent on crops and livestock for food and livelihoods.
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The humanitarian crisis caused by this historic drought is compounded by disruptions in food supply chains caused by the crisis in Ukraine.
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This announcement of $73.55 million in new funding includes $63.75 million in humanitarian assistance and $9.8 million in development funding.
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The $63.75 million in new humanitarian funding announced for the Horn of Africa today will bring Canada’s total humanitarian funding for the region to $84.45 million so far in 2022.
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The $9.8 million in complementary development funding for 5 humanitarian initiatives, also announced today, will support the longer-term resilience of crisis-affected communities in Ethiopia, particularly in the areas of empowerment of women and girls.
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These initiatives adopt a nexus approach to address immediate humanitarian needs and provide longer-term support related to water, sanitation, hygiene, protection, women’s economic development and empowerment, education, climate action and livelihoods.
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In 2021, Canada provided a total of $78.1 million in humanitarian funding for Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
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Contacts
Yentl Béliard-Joseph
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development
Yentl.Beliard-Joseph@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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