(August 17, 2017) –
World Vision Canada is grateful to Canadians for their generous donations of more than $21.3 million to the Famine Relief Fund established by the Canadian Government in May, 2017. Canadian donations, matched dollar for dollar by the Government of Canada will provide critical assistance to help those impacted by famine, conflict, insecurity and displacement in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and other parts of Africa, according to World Vision.
Canadian generosity will have a meaningful impact in the lives of millions of people. However, the scale of these emergencies is so large that multi-year, flexible funding is still urgently needed to assist more than 55 million people.
QUOTES:
“World Vision applauds the Government of Canada for these new humanitarian commitments and is deeply grateful to Canadians for their generosity. This funding is saving the lives of children and families during a critical time. The money from the Famine Relief Fund will enable organizations like World Vision to provide essential food assistance and critical support for the most vulnerable people. But this crisis is far from over. More needs to be done to pull millions back from the brink of starvation.”
“World Vision believes a hunger-free world is possible. We know that aid works. Over the last 15 years, 200 million people around the world have been freed from hunger with lasting solutions to food insecurity. World Vision donors have been a central part of this success and we encourage Canadians to continue to give generously to ensure we are meeting the needs of the most vulnerable.”
-Michael Messenger, President, World Vision Canada
FAST FACTS
- 55 million people in Yemen and across Africa are in need of immediate assistance
- 34 million people in Africa, including 4 million children under the age of 5 are on the brink of starvation
- 10 million children are out of school due to the hunger crisis
- 5.7 million people displaced by conflict or the search for food across East and West Africa