Numerous countries in Africa are facing conflict, drought, food shortages and widespread displacement. The UN estimates millions of people are at risk of starvation in Southern and Eastern Africa.
- In 2017-18, Australia provided $36.45 million to support international relief efforts in Somalia and South Sudan.
- In 2016-17, Australia provided a total of over $68 million in response to the worsening crises in Africa.
Australia’s humanitarian funding to Africa in 2017-18 included:
- $20 million to provide emergency food, health services and protecting the human rights and safety of affected communities particularly women and girls in South Sudan.
- $16.45 million to provide food, health services, water sanitation and hygiene and livelihoods support to communities in Somalia.
In addition:
- $25 million of Australia’s core funding to the World Food Programme for 2017-18 was allocated to countries in Africa.
- $5 million of Australia’s core funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for 2017-18 was allocated to the South Sudan Regional Refugee Response.
Core funding
Australia also provides annual core funding to trusted international humanitarian partners. This funding allows our partners to prioritise the most urgent humanitarian needs globally. For example, $25 million of Australia’s 2017-18 core funding to the World Food Programme, and $5 million of our core funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was allocated to countries in Africa.
Australia’s partners include:
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
World Food Programme (WFP)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Somalia Resilience Program
World Vision and Oxfam
Original source: DFAT
Published on 10 January 2019