From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Nov 30 2009 - 07:54:54 EST
Mon, 30-Nov 2009
Norway increases emergency relief to the Horn of Africa
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Norway has decided to increase emergency relief to Kenya, Somalia,
Eritrea and Ethiopia because of the drought. - At the same time it is
important to increase food security, Development Minister Erik Solheim says.
** More than 20 million people are suffering from hunger as a result of the
severe drought and conflicts in this densely populated region. Norway is now
allocating NOK 40 million in emergency relief to victims of the drought.“I
am deeply concerned about the civilian population, who are severely
affected,” said Minister of the Environment and International Development
Erik Solheim. “The situation is acute. Nearly half of the world’s food aid
goes to the Horn of Africa today. At the same time we must focus on finding
lasting political solutions to the conflicts in the region.” The Norwegian
allocation has already been disbursed, most of it through the World Food
Programme (WFP).It is vital to increase food security in the region. In
Somalia, the security situation of aid workers is so precarious that it is
affecting the distribution of emergency aid. Kenya and Ethiopia are in a
position to feed their own populations, but food aid undermines local food
production and the people’s ability to help themselves. This creates new
crises.
Norway is one of the largest donors to the Horn of Africa. Total Norwegian
assistance to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2009 will total
approximately NOK 270 million.
(NRK/Press release)
*Rolleiv Solholm*
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