Over 99,000 people in six countries will benefit; includes emergency response in Burundi
Over 99,000 people in six countries will benefit from eight projects totaling $2.75 million committed by Canadian Foodgrains Bank in December.
The projects are implemented by Foodgrains Bank members ADRA Canada, Canadian Lutheran World Relief and Mennonite Central Committee Canada, in collaboration with their local partners.
One project, through ADRA Canada, is responding to drought in Bubanza province, Burundi.
Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a troubled history. Ongoing political violence has contributed to instability, inflation, and high unemployment.
Most of the population relies on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods. In Bubanza province, poor rainfall has resulted in poor harvests. As a result, hunger is widespread.
ADRA Canada is responding by supporting ADRA Burundi in providing 1,300 families (about 8,000 people) with four monthly emergency food baskets of maize, beans, oil, salt, sugar and soybean flour. The project is worth $490,000.
In Iraq, through another project, farmers in Kurdistan are being supported by Mennonite Central Committee Canada partner REACH (Rehabilitation, Education, and Community Health) in improving their farms and livelihoods.
Farming traditions and knowledge have broken down over the years due to conflict. Ongoing drought means many people have left home to try their luck in urban areas. Households are also strained as they host relatives from other, more violent parts of the country.
There are 640 households (about 3,800 people) participating in the project, which totals $314,000.
Projects supported by Canadian Foodgrains Bank are undertaken with support from the Government of Canada.