Ottawa, August 17, 2017 –With 20 million women, children and men struggling to find food and safe drinking water in parts of Africa and Yemen, Canadians donated more than $8 million to the Humanitarian Coalition and its member agencies during the Stop Famine Together joint campaign.

Thanks to the Government of Canada’s Famine Relief Fund, which matched eligible donations, even more relief aid is available to those in need.

“Immediate action saves lives and thanks to generous donations from Canadians, we’ve been able to do just that,” said Richard Morgan, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Coalition. “The Government of Canada played a critical leadership role in raising awareness for this crisis.”

The seven member agencies of the Humanitarian Coalition are providing immediate life-saving aid. Some examples of their assistance on the ground include:

  • Food, clean water and health intervention for internally displaced people in South Sudan
  • Medical assistance for people, especially children and pregnant women, on the brink of starvation in Somalia
  • Clean water and hygiene assistance to prevent the spread of cholera in Yemen
  • Shelter for refugees in Uganda
  • Clean water, sanitation and hygiene assistance to communities in Ethiopia
  • Safe places for children and women displaced by drought in Kenya

This help would not have been possible without Canadians across the country responding compassionately and creatively.

  • Ottawa artist Martha Nixon donated half of the proceeds from an art sale she held in June.
  • Students at Cairine Wilson Secondary School in Ottawa fundraised even while studying for their year-end exams.
  • James Lutheran Church in Elmira, Ontario held a benefit concert.
  • Six communities took part in the Red Alert campaign, lighting up some of their buildings and monuments in red to support the campaign and raise awareness.
  • The Prime Minister, MPs and mayors took to social media to promote the campaign and encourage Canadians to donate.

Save the Children also welcomes the Government of Canada’s additional funding commitments for the growing hunger crises, which include $5.2 million to support 283,494 children and their families in Yemen and Ethiopia.

“Drought and conflict have put millions of children at risk in parts of Africa and Yemen,” says Patricia Erb, President and CEO of Save the Children Canada, a member of the Humanitarian Coalition. “It is truly humbling to see Canada came together to support children when they need it the most. We should all be proud of our efforts to help stop famine together.”

Save the Children to reach thousands of children with Canada’s commitment

  • Yemen: Save the Children to support up to 12,172 people affected by drought in Ethiopia. The project will provide life-saving aid to internally displaced women, including female pastoralists and their livestock, as well as ease the impact of the drought in their communities.
  • Ethiopia: Save the Children to increase medical support and infrastructure rehabilitation in Taiz Governorate, Yemen. Overall, 271,322 people, including 170,783 will directly benefit from this grant.

 

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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.