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Famine in the Horn of Africa: Federal Foreign Office increases its humanitarian aid once more by 2.5 million euro
Markus Löning, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement in Berlin today (8 August) on the situation in the Horn of Africa:
“I am deeply shocked and appalled by the horrific images from Ethiopia, Kenya, and above all Somalia, with which we are confronted every day.
People in this region are in urgent need of assistance. The Federal Foreign Office is therefore making available further funds to assist refugees in inaccessible regions. Not only food but also medical care are urgently required.
I am pleased that these funds will enable us to help more people. At the same time, I would like to appeal to everyone to make a donation to help people in Africa.”
The Federal Foreign Office has increased its humanitarian aid for the Horn of Africa by another 2.5 million euro. The measures financed with these new funds will be targeted at the most urgent needs of those affected in the region.
With the funds made available, the World Food Programme (WFP) will be able to organize up to four food flights as part of the airlift to Somalia. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will establish emergency hospitals in areas in Somalia usually barely accessible due to the political situation, thus improving basic medical care for those in need. Further aid projects will ensure basic medical care for children, as well as safe drinking water supplies for refugees who are not in one of the refugee camps.
Further information:
In 2011 the Federal Foreign Office has already provided 9.6 million euro in humanitarian aid for the Horn of Africa. The German Government’s total humanitarian aid for the area affected currently stands at 33.5 million euro.
The European Commission has increased its pledges by 60 million euro to approximately 160 million euro, with Germany contributing about 32 million euro to this amount.