CANADIAN AID TO FLOOD-AFFECTED PEOPLE IN HORN OF

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003594 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAN, WHA/EPSC, AF/E, AF/EPS, AND IO DEPARTMENT PASS USAID/AFR AND DCHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON CA ET KE SO SUBJECT: CANADIAN AID TO FLOOD-AFFECTED PEOPLE IN HORN OF AFRICA ¶1. (U) Summary: Canada is giving C$2.67 million to assist flood-affected people in the Horn of Africa. International Cooperation Minister Verner said that hundreds of thousands of children and adults will receive food, safe drinking water, and shelter as a result of the GoC contribution. The money is being distributed through international agencies and Canadian NGOs to people in Kenya (C$720,000),Somalia (C$1.35 million) and Ethiopia (C$598,800). End summary. ¶2. (U) On December 11, Canadian International Cooperation Minister Josee Verner announced that Canada is allocating C$2.67 million ($2.3 million) to help flood-affected people in the Horn of Africa. Heavy rains in recent months have turned large areas of Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia into flood disaster zones, resulting in loss of life, and the massive displacement of people who have lost their homes, livelihood, and possessions. According to the Canadian International Cooperation Agency, more than 1.6 million people have been affected. Outbreaks of cholera have been detected, and relief agencies expect an increase in the incidence of malaria. ¶3. (U) Minister Verner said that Canada's support will help victims of the flooding by providing trusted humanitarian aid partners with the resources they need to respond quickly and effectively, adding that hundreds of thousands of children and adults will receive food, safe drinking water and other provisions such as shelter kits and mosquito bed nets as a result of Canada's aid. ¶4. (U) The new Canadian aid will be distributed to Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia: Kenya (C$720,000): -- C$400,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the provision of seed and farm implements, access to clean water and sanitation, and to monitor and evaluate the state of the flooding; -- C$120,000 to World Vision Canada to reduce the likelihood of epidemic outbreaks like malaria and cholera through the distribution of drug treatment kits; -- C$200,000 to Save the Children Canada to provide about 64,000 children with non-food items such as hygiene kits and clothing. Somalia (C$1.35 million): -- C$400,000 to CARE Canada to assist about 50,000 flood-affected people in southern Somalia with emergency aid in the coming six months; -- C$300,000 to the World Food Program to provide logistical air support to UN and non-governmental agencies to facilitate relief operations; -- C$250,000 to the World Health Organization for its work in assessing health infrastructure as well as support health clinics which distribute drugs and medical supplies; -- C$400,000 to UNICEF to supply safe drinking water as well as hygiene and sanitation service to the affected population. Ethiopia (C$598,800): -- C$290,000 to the IFRC to provide non-food items, rehabilitate the water supply systems and increase awareness of hygiene related issues among the displaced people; -- C$200,000 to Oxfam Canada to provide household items and improve access to safe drinking water to about 1,370 households; -- C$106,800 to Save the Children Canada for the provision of items such as shelter materials, cooking utensils, blankets and seeds for over 1,000 households. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS