More than 30 million people across Africa are going hungry, according to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). Currently, East Africa is the worst hit region primarily due to the failure of the last rains. Within this region, some 11 million people in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia in need of food aid. Of these, approximately 6.5 million are on the brink of starvation and in need of immediate assistance to ensure survival. East Africa’s pastoralists are particularly at risk as they watch their herds of cattle succumb to starvation when there is nothing left to graze.
Ireland’s response
Given the immediacy and the severity of needs in the East African region, Minister of State for Development Cooperation, Conor Lenihan TD, announced a humanitarian funding package of over €5 million on 10 February this year.
€2.5 million is to be allocated to the WFP, with another €1 million to UNICEF and €500,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross. The Irish Non Governmental Organisations Trócaire and Concern who are also working on the ground in this region will receive €550,000 and €500,000 respectively.
Link to full press release announcing funding package
Focus on: World Food Programme
The WFP specialises in getting the right food to the right people in times of crisis. In 2004, for example, the agency’s food aid reached 89 million people caught in the world’s humanitarian disasters and delivered 5.1 million tonnes of food by air, land and sea. The WFP emergency response occurs at the request of the local government and requires funds from the international community to put that response into operation.
Commenting on the Irish pledge to the East Africa region, WFP Kenya Country Director, Tesema Negash said, “We are tremendously grateful to the Government of Ireland for their generous cash contribution at this critical time, when many are living on the edge”.
Last year, Irish Aid’s total contribution to the WFP was over €19.7 million.
Link to full WFP press release on Irish contribution
Link to WFP website
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