On Friday, July 22, the Minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Association (CIDA), Hon. Bev Oda, announced Canada is increasing aid for famine relief by $50 million.  This is in addition to the $22.3 million already committed.
The Minister also announced the creation of the East Africa Drought Relief Fund.  The federal government will match all donations by Canadians, dollar for dollar, during the ten week period of July 6 to September 16.  The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will allocate these funds to established Canadian and international humanitarian organizations for humanitarian assistance efforts that benefit the people most affected by the drought.  Donations can be made to any registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations toward the East Africa relief efforts.

There are a number of organizations working in the region, to which donations will be matched including, but not limited to:
The Humanitarian Coalition, www.humanitariancoalition.ca, (613) 237-5236
World Vision Canada, www.worldvision.ca, 1-866-595-5550

It should be noted that the charitable organizations receiving your donation for the Relief Fund will not receive the matching government donation themselves.  For each dollar raised the government will set aside the equivalent toward the East Africa Drought Relief Fund and those monies will be administered by CIDA.

For more information on the new East Africa Drought Relief Fund, and more information on how you can help, see the CIDA website at www.acdi-cida.gc.ca, or call our office (800) 265-6228.

Bruce is encouraging residents in our area to consider giving even a small contribution to this monumental humanitarian crisis – the likes of which have not been experienced in decades.  At least 11 million people, including hundreds of thousands of children, are vulnerable to malnutrition, disease, and violence.  Malnourished and in need of emergency assistance, people are converging upon refugee camps in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia in search of food and water.
Your $25, $50 or $100 donation will be doubled in terms of its assistance toward emergency care for the millions of people at risk.

“Heather and I are making our $100 donation today to the Humanitarian Coalition which includes Oxfam, Care - Canada, Save the Children, and Foster Parents Plan,” remarked Bruce Stanton, M.P. for Simcoe North.  “As we have seen in the past with crises in Haiti, Sri Lanka, Japan and Pakistan, the generosity of residents of Simcoe North is genuine and substantial.  I am pleased to see the federal government matching donations for this extraordinary need”.