The Albanese Government has announced a $23 million funding package to help deliver healthcare, food, and clean water amid ongoing humanitarian crises in the Horn of Africa. Source: Caritas Australia.
The aid package includes:
- $13 million to assist vulnerable people in Sudan and Sudanese refugees displaced to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
- $12 million to be split equally between Ethiopia and Somalia to support people affected by crises.
- $4 million for Kenya to respond to flooding and address food insecurity.
Assistance will be delivered through Australian and local non-government organisations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and UN partners.
The funding is a response to severe humanitarian crises across the Horn of African region. In Sudan, attacks on civilians, including children, as well as widespread reports of severe sexual violence, have resulted in 2 million fleeing across borders and 7.1 million fleeing within Sudan itself.
Caritas Internationalis, the World Council of Churches and Jesuit Refugee Service last week commented on the situation in Sudan, following a UN Human Rights Council session on the crisis.
“The displacement crisis, both within Sudan and neighbouring countries, has reached untenable levels,” the charities said.
“Without an immediate injection of funds, the capacity of neighbouring countries to respond will soon reach a breaking point.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Won said: “Australia is gravely concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa and is working with international partners to help the most vulnerable and address instability in the region.
“We continue to advocate for political solutions to these conflicts and to call for safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian organisations.”
To support Caritas Australia’s African Food Crisis Appeal, visit www.caritas.org.au/africa.
FULL STORY
$29m aid package for crises in the Horn of Africa desperately needed says Caritas Australia (Caritas Australia)
