Press releases, 21.1.2010

Finland grants additional humanitarian assistance for earthquake victims in Haiti

Press release 16/2010
21 January, 2010

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen has decided today, 21 January, to grant additional funds for humanitarian assistance to the earthquake victims in Haiti. The grant of 3.75 million euros is based on the UN aid system’s joint appeal for emergency assistance on 15 January and the additional needs reported by the Finnish Red Cross and Finn Church Aid.

The UN’s joint appeal for emergency assistance estimates that there is the greatest need for food aid, clean water supply, shelter and logistics. Besides these, the crisis gave rise to an appreciable need for coordination of international humanitarian assistance. Finland directs the support now granted to the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The sum of 1.1. million euros is granted to the WFP, to be used for the distribution of food aid and for responding to the needs of relief logistics. The grant to Unicef is 1 million euros, which alongside child welfare is focused on improving water, sanitation and primary health care. The IOM will receive 0.7 million euros in support. The organisation holds the main responsibility for administering the camps set up for earthquake victims and for emergency shelter. OCHA will direct its assistance of 150,000 euros to coordinating international emergency relief.

Through the decision now made, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs also grants the Finnish Red Cross 0.5 million euros in support for participation in the costs of a new field hospital in Haiti. The 300,000 euros in aid awarded to Finn Church Aid will be used primarily to support the supply of food and water in the crisis area, particularly for the most vulnerable groups in need of assistance.

Including the previous decision to grant assistance, the support granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to Haiti, to assist the victims of this crisis, now rises to a total of 5 million euros. Of this sum, 2.95 million euros is directed through UN agencies and 2.05 million euros through the Finnish Red Cross and Finn Church Aid.

Additional information: Ulla-Maija Finskas, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, tel. +358 9 1605 6225, mobile tel. +358 400 431 921, and Päivi Nevala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 9 1605 6171 or mobile tel. +358 40 753 4375