Government announces funding to tackle food crisis in the Horn of Africa

The Government today announced a further €400,000 for emergency operations in the drought-stricken region of Horn of Africa.  

Minister of State for Trade and Development, Jan O’Sullivan TD, approved the funding for CONCERN as part of an ongoing response operation by Irish Aid. The funds will be used to provide food rations for 10,000 of the worst-affected people in Somalia, as well as treating 1,800 malnourished children.

This brings to €4.4m the total emergency funding from Irish Aid to the region in 2011. In addition, 11 members of the Government’s Rapid Response Corps have deployed to the Horn of Africa to work with humanitarian agencies. 

"The Government has been closely monitoring the situation in the Horn of Africa for a number of months,” Minister O’Sullivan said.  “The region is experiencing the most severe food crisis in the world today. There has been a prolonged drought, and at least two seasonal rains have failed. More than 10 million people in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda face severe food shortages”.

“During the first half of 2011 I approved funding of more than €4 million to agencies working in the region. Some  €2.6 million was allocated to Concern, Trócaire, Goal and World Vision for emergency food, water, sanitation and healthcare, with another €1.5 million provided to the United Nations in Somalia for distribution to humanitarian agencies operating in that country.”

“The €400,000 approved for Concern today will help them provide food for thousands who would otherwise be at risk of starvation. We are also supporting their treatment programme for malnourished children in and around Mogadishu.

“Irish Aid officials are in daily contact with our partner agencies in the Horn of Africa, and we will continue to support them in the period ahead.”

5 July, 2011