Canada answers UN call for urgent humanitarian aid to avert starvation
OTTAWA — Canada will provide almost $120 million to help avert the prospect of starvation for 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.
The pledge comes in response to a United Nations warning earlier this month that the desperate situation in the four countries represents the “largest humanitarian crisis” the world has faced since the end of the Second World War.
The UN has said $4.4 billion in humanitarian aid is needed by July to avert disaster.
Canada’s contribution of $119.25 million, to be delivered through UN agencies and non-governmental humanitarian organizations, will go towards the provision of food, health care services, clean water and sanitation facilities, and support to protect people’s income-generating activities.