58 million euros of humanitarian aid for crises of the world
Press release 53/2010
21 February 2011
By decision of Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted humanitarian aid appropriations for the first part of the year, totalling 58 million euros, to people suffering from the world’s crises. Finland’s entire humanitarian aid budget for 2011 totals 78 million euros.
The purpose of humanitarian assistance is to save human lives and alleviate human suffering caused by crisis situations. The humanitarian aid donated by Finland is based on the joint appeal published each year by the UN agencies; this year, the geographical focal point once again is Africa.
In Sudan, the refugee situation caused by the Darfur crisis continues. No peaceful solution has been found for the chaotic situation in Somalia. Finland’s donation for these needs and for the entire Horn of Africa region totals more than ten million euros. The support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the surrounding regions in Central Africa amounts to more than seven million euros, and 1.2 million euros is granted to Zimbabwe. Aid amounting to four million euros was pledged for the needs of West Africa, including the drought in Sahel region, and refugee situation in Ivory Coast.
Outside Africa, the targets of support include Haiti, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. In the Middle East, a grant of three million is pledged through UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, for the occupied Palestinian Territories.
The largest part of the assistance is channelled through the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (16.5 million euros) and the WFP, the World Food Programme (6.8 million). Finland gives general support to OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and to CERF, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. OCHA has a significant role in ensuring the coordination of humanitarian assistance. CERF, which receives a donation of 6.5 million euros, effectively funds urgent needs for help, such as those arising in connection with natural disasters.
The International Red Cross will receive support totalling 8.4 million euros, most of it channelled through the Finnish Red Cross. In addition to Africa and other country targets, the aid is also used for strengthening the aid coordination of the International Federation of Red Cross. Finnish channels for international aid include also Finn Church Aid and Fida International, which are granted a total of 3.7 million euros.
In addition to the aid granted now, additional assistance can be granted in the event of acute disasters.
Additional information: Timo Karmakallio, Counsellor, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, tel. +358 40 727 5487