NZ Government Follows Public’s Lead on Africa’s Famine

March 30, 2017

NZ Government Follows Public’s Lead on Africa’s Famine

New Zealand’s major aid agencies are welcoming the Government announcement of $3 million in desperately needed funding for the unfolding famine in the Greater Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Yemen. “New Zealand aid workers and agencies are working around the clock to head off a humanitarian catastrophe in the Greater Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Yemen,” says Mark Mitchell, spokesperson for New Zealand’s alliance of international relief agencies.

“The New Zealand public has been first off the block to support our work. We’re very pleased to see the government backing the public with this financial support.”

According to the United Nations, years of drought and localized conflict are fueling one of the greatest food crises in a generation. Famine is already affecting more than 100,000 people in South Sudan, with 20 million more in desperate need of emergency food aid, in a string of crisis-affected countries stretching from Yemen in the east to Nigeria in the west.

Public donations to New Zealand aid agencies are more important now than ever. The Government of New Zealand’s aid package includes up to $1 million for New Zealand aid agencies, but only if these agencies can match it through their own funds raised from public donations.

“If New Zealand agencies together can raise a million dollars, then the Government will match it. That means we need Kiwis to keep giving generously, to help us meet this critical target,” says Mark Mitchell.

Ten New Zealand aid agencies are conducting relief operations in some of the worst-affected communities in the Greater Horn of Africa region. Thanks to the combined efforts of Caritas Aotearoa NZ, Christian World Service, UNICEF NZ, World Vision NZ, Oxfam NZ, Save the Children NZ, ADRA NZ, ChildFund NZ, Tearfund, and Rotary NZ hundreds of thousands are receiving emergency food and water supplies, shelter, education and medical care. To learn more about the crisis in the Greater Horn of Africa, and ways that you can donate to New Zealand relief efforts, go to www.cid.org.nz.

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