Waldner: “Aid must reach the suffering people quickly”
Council of Ministers to decide on increasing aid funds for East Africa six fold tomorrow
Vienna, 18 October 2011 – Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Council of Ministers is to adopt a resolution for a six fold increase in Austrian aid for East Africa. State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner who was entrusted with the development work cooperation portfolio by Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger is pleased about this decision: “The situation in East Africa is becoming more and more dramatic. According to the European Union, 13.3 million people – among them millions of children – are currently suffering from the effects of the drought at the Horn of Africa. The additional seven million euros are dedicated to the right cause“. The positive reactions of NGOs, such as Caritas, AG Globale Verantwortung and Ecosocial Form, to this initiative set by Waldner are a positive signal.
It is important now to bring the additional funds as quickly as possible to the people in need: “Giving quickly means to help double. I have therefore instructed the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the responsible departments of our Ministry to work out scenarios of providing the additional funds quickly and efficiently via national and international aid organisations to the people in need”, said the State Secretary who wants to announce concrete aid projects as soon as possible.
The Austrian Government will provide further 2 million euros (in addition to the 1.5 billion already made available) from the Foreign Disaster Aid Fund to support the humanitarian efforts of the international community of states in East Africa. The Austrian Finance Ministry is to provide an additional 5 million euros to support the relief measures and to alleviate the suffering in East Africa. The funds will be allocated partly to international humanitarian relief organisations and partly to Austrian relief organisations via the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
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