Press release 237/2014
In its autumn distribution of humanitarian aid, Finland has granted 15.7 million euros for the worst crisis sites. Many of these targets are seriously underfunded and have gone unnoticed because of other crises ongoing at the same time. Development Minister Sirpa Paatero made a decision on the matter on the international United Nations Day, 24 October.
Never before has the need for aid been so great. Support saves human lives and alleviates human distress in places where the need is greatest. The support is granted to Finnish actors, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and UN agencies.
“This year has been exceptionally tough for the millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes and have suffered from acute and long-term crises in inhumane conditions. Moreover, aid workers and humanitarian organizations have had to use all available means to be able to meet the most critical needs. The same determination is needed now in Western Africa so that the Ebola epidemic can be brought under control,” Development Minister Paatero states.
Support of 2.7 million euros is given for the Syrian crisis, which raises Finland’s support granted thus far this year to a total of 11.15 million. Aid is also given to forgotten crises, such as Yemen and the Sahel region as well as the Central African Republic and its neighbouring countries, which have received large numbers of refugees. In all, 3 million euros is channelled to the Palestinian territory, 1.5 million of this sum to the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency UNRWA in addition to the 3 million euros granted earlier this year. Through the Finnish Red Cross, the amount of 920,000 euros is given in additional support to the operation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. More than half of the support for humanitarian aid now granted, nearly 8.3 million euros, is focused on Africa.
The decision brings Finland’s humanitarian aid during the present year to 92.2 million euros. Last year a total of 96.3 million euros was granted for humanitarian aid.
The support is paid out of the appropriations for humanitarian aid included in Finland’s development cooperation.
Additional information: Juha Peltonen, Press Attaché to the Minister, tel. +358 50 554 6426, and Anna Gebremedhin, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, tel. +358 40 583 0149.
Sums granted in the autumn distribution
Middle East, a total of EUR 5,200,000
Syrian crisis, a total of EUR 2,700,000 World Health Organization Syria, EUR 1,000,000 UNRWA Syrian crisis, EUR 1,500,000 Finnish Red Cross support to the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, EUR 200,000
Occupied Palestinian territories, a total of EUR 1,500,000 Finnish Red Cross support to the International Committee of the Red Cross, EUR 1,500,000
Yemen, a total of EUR 1,000,000 World Health Organization WHO Yemen, EUR 1,000,000
Africa, a total of EUR 8,262,220
Somalia, a total of EUR 1,500,000 UNDP Somalia Pool, EUR 1,500,000
Sahel, EUR 1,000,000 FAO, EUR 1,000,000
Ebola, a total of EUR 920,000 Finnish Red Cross support to the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, EUR 920,000
The Central African Republic and neighbouring countries, a total of EUR 3,500,000 WFP, EUR 1,500,000 UNICEF, EUR 1,500,000 Finnish Red Cross support to the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, EUR 500,000
Chad, a total of EUR 1,342,220 UNHCR, EUR 1,342,220
Asia, a total of EUR 1,000,000
Afghanistan, a total of EUR 1,000,000 WFP, EUR 1,000,000
General support
General support UNRWA, EUR 1,500,000