As the true extent of the damage from Cyclone Idai becomes apparent, Save the Children today welcomed the Government of Canada’s match funding announcement.
The government will exclusively match every dollar donated by Canadians to Humanitarian Coalition members, of which Save the Children is a founding partner, until April 14.
Cyclone Idai brought destructive winds and torrential rain to Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe devastating whole communities in the three southern African countries. Horrific stories of death and destruction have emerged from the chaos; families were literally holding onto life, atop any remaining buildings and trees above water, waiting to be rescued.
Today, the Government of Canada stepped up in a significant way to help the 3 million people affected. The match funding will be to the tune of $2 million and retroactive to March 15, to match all previous donations to the cyclone relief efforts.[i]
“Canada’s leadership could not come at a more critical time, as the number of people affected by Cyclone Idai increases with each passing day. Our teams are working around the clock to deliver food, shelter, protection and medical care to those in desperate need – but we have to reach more people” said Bill Chambers, President and CEO of Save the Children and Board Member of the Humanitarian Coalition.
“Canadians always step up and show their generosity during times of crisis; we thank the government for making the Canadian public’s dollars go even further through match funding,” added Chambers.
Despite the difficult conditions and constraints, Save the Children teams are making real progress. We’re ramping up household kit distributions, supplying schools with materials for classrooms, and setting up over 20 child friendly spaces. Additionally, Save the Children’s Emergency Health Unit is launching mobile health clinics to help thousands of children and their families receive urgent medical care. We’re also helping reunite children who have been separated from their families in the chaos.
Save the Children is a proud member of the Humanitarian Coalition, a group of leading aid organizations who come together during disasters and crisis to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to help, through one joint appeal. Together, we are saving more lives.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Save the Children: Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children, delivering programs and improving children’s lives in more than 120 countries worldwide. We believe that all children have the right to survive, learn, and be protected, and we will do whatever it takes to reach every last child. Our programs reached more than 49 million children in 2017.
Learn more here:
www.savethechildren.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @savechildrencanada
[i] The government’s match funding is in addition to an initial $3.5 million they provided at the onset of the disaster to help aid organizations help children and families in need.
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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.