The Canadian government is committing more than $34 million in aid to
drought- and famine-stricken southern Africa, says international
development minister Susan Whelan.
A big chunk of it likely will be delivered in food aid to help an
estimated 16 million hungry people in the region make it through the
year.
“We are waiting for final assessments of need,” she told a June 19 news
conference. “We will respond appropriately.”
Only then will it be clear if food should be purchased in Canada and
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federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
shipped overseas, or if it can be purchased in Africa for local
delivery.
A number of countries in southern Africa have been gripped by hunger
and disease because of the worst drought in a decade, plus war, poverty
and political upheaval.
Whelan said that during the past year, Canada has sent $10.8 million to
the region through the Canadian International Development Agency,
almost half of it in food aid.
The new spending will bring Canada’s contribution to $45 million.
She said the new money will be distributed in the region through
“reputable and trusted” non-governmental organizations.
In addition to food deliveries, the money will be used to provide
medicines, vaccines, nutritional supplements and other needs to be
identified.
The largest portion of the new money, more than $8 million, will be
spent on medicines, health care and nutrition in the war-torn country
of Angola.
