6.5 million euros more for humanitarian aid in Africa

Press release 261/2005
1 September, 2005

By a decision made by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted 6.5 million euros for assisting the suffering people of Africa.

"The natural disaster at the turn of the year in Asia had significant consequences on the humanitarian assistance budget. The reallocation of funds to increase the share of humanitarian assistance within the development cooperation budget makes it possible for us to make a reasonable contribution to the several crises of the year," minister Lehtomäki points out.

When assigning funds, the ministry has examined the situation in Africa as a whole, and taken into account particularly the regional needs, as well as the areas of focus for which aid organisations have made repeated appeals. The aid is channelled mainly through the World Food Programme, WFP, the UN organisation for women’s and children’s rights, UNICEF, and the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Appropriations have also been granted to Finnish civil organisations on the basis of requests for assistance.

"The decision made aims at supporting food security, basic health care, and remigration of internal refugees in Africa. The other important goals in the programmes include increased access to clean water, improvement of sanitation conditions, and improvement of the situation of women and children," Lehtomäki says.

In West Africa, assistance is given in an area of 16 states, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The total sum allocated to the area is 2.35 million euros, which includes 300,000 euros provided as direct food assistance to Niger. Another large area in a serious humanitarian crisis is the southern Africa, where more than ten million people are estimated to be in immediate need of assistance. This area comprising six states – Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe – will be assisted by 1.65 million euros included in the resolution now made.

After the changes in the allocation of funds, the total amount assigned for humanitarian assistance in 2005 is 60.5 million euros.

Additional information: Press Attaché Jari Haapiainen, tel. +358 9 1605 5356