Friday May 26, 2023
New Zealand is providing 7.75 million NZ dollars (4.71 million U.S. dollars) to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Thursday.
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its most severe drought in decades, with five consecutive failed rainy seasons. At least 43.3 million people require lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, Mahuta said.
New Zealand has made 2 million NZ dollars (1.22 million U.S. dollars) available to six Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partners to respond to food insecurity in the Horn of Africa. This funding is being mobilized through the New Zealand Disaster Response Partnership, with the NGO partners matching the government's contribution, she said.
New Zealand is also contributing a total of 5.75 million NZ dollars (3.5 million U.S. dollars) to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN World Food Programme and the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund to support their responses in Ethiopia and Somalia, the minister said.
These partners are providing urgently needed humanitarian protection and assistance, including food rations and income support, and treatment for malnutrition, she added.