Oxfam’s been hauling water to parched regions. Over three million souls in Somalia are battling dire food scarcity, with upwards of 700,000 uprooted by the calamity. Snapped by Allan Gichigi/Oxfam
The Australian government has pledged more greenbacks for humanitarian relief in the Horn of Africa.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, International Development and the Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, along with Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts declared a new funding package worth 23 million Australian dollars (15.2 million U.S. dollars). This cash aims to bring healthcare, nourishment, and clean water to those tangled in the ongoing crises in the Horn of Africa.
Among the funds, 13 million Australian dollars (8.6 million U.S. dollars) are earmarked for at-risk populations in Sudan and Sudanese refugees scattered to neighboring nations. An additional 6 million Australian dollars (3.9 million U.S. dollars) will go towards aiding folks hit by turmoil in Ethiopia and Somalia, and 4 million Australian dollars (2.6 million U.S. dollars) are designated for Kenya to cope with flood aftershocks.
In a unified statement, Wong, Conroy, and Watts expressed Australia’s earnest worry over the intertwining impacts of relentless conflicts and climate chaos on the vulnerable populace in the area.
“Australia is seriously troubled by the worsening humanitarian nightmare in the Horn of Africa,” Wong said. “We’re teaming up with international collaborators to assist those most in need and tackle regional instability.”
Australian and local NGOs, UN entities, and the International Committee of the Red Cross will handle the delivery of aid.
