Canada provides funding to respond to food crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen

More than 20 million people in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are facing famine or a credible risk of famine. Canada’s intervention will target the most vulnerable, including the needs of women and children, in order to ensure that those most in need of assistance are reached. Here is a breakdown of the partners receiving humanitarian funding:

NGOs:

• Action Against Hunger - $5.1 million
• CARE Canada - $3.7 million
• Concern Worldwide - $1.8 million
• International Rescue Committee - $2 million
• Islamic Relief Canada - $1.5 million
• Médecins Sans Frontières - $1 million
• Mercy Corps - $4.6 million
• Save the Children Canada - $3.8 million
• World Relief Canada - $1 million
• World Vision Canada - $3.6 million

Red Cross:

• International Committee of the Red Cross - $17.8 million

United Nations agencies:

• International Organization for Migration - $5 million
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - $1.45 million
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (country-based pooled funds) - $5.9 million
• United Nations Population Fund - $3 million
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - $4.15 million
• UNICEF - $9.6 million
• World Food Programme - $42 million
• World Food Programme (United Nations Humanitarian Air Service) - $1.75 million
• World Health Organization - $500,000

Nigeria - $27.35 million: The conflict between Boko Haram and Nigerian armed forces has caused deep devastation among communities in northeastern Nigeria. As access for humanitarian workers to the region improved throughout 2016, the scope of the crisis became more apparent. It is estimated that in the three most impacted states of the northeast, 8.5 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2017, of which 5.1 million are severely food insecure. Assistance for basic survival and protection is vital for displaced populations, host communities and vulnerable people across the northeast.

Somalia - $21 million: Somalia’s relatively positive political trajectory over the past year has not led to significant improvements in the country’s humanitarian situation. Acute needs remain high due to ongoing conflict and insecurity, displacement, poor basic services, food insecurity, malnutrition and climatic variability. Several seasons of severe drought have led to increased food insecurity and the very real threat that the country could slide into famine in 2017. Overall, roughly one-half of the population, more than 6 million people, including more than 1 million internally displaced persons, require humanitarian assistance.

South Sudan - $36.9 million: Humanitarian needs in South Sudan are greater than at any point since the most recent conflict began in December 2013. In 2016, people across South Sudan were affected by multiple threats, including armed conflict and inter-communal violence, economic decline, disease and climatic shocks, which have led to widespread displacement. More than 3.3 million people—more than one in every four people in South Sudan—have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began, including 1.85 million internally displaced people and over 1.48 million refugees in neighbouring countries. In February 2017, the UN declared a famine in parts of Unity State in South Sudan, affecting an estimated 100,000 people. Up to 1 million people are at risk of starvation without international help.

Yemen - $34 million: Yemen has been suffering from a significant and prolonged humanitarian crisis, further exacerbated by the escalation of the conflict in early 2015. Humanitarian partners estimate that in 2017 there will be 10.3 million people in Yemen who require immediate life-saving assistance. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, between 7 million and 10 million people in Yemen have no access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food.