VZCZCXRO5598
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #3594 3482006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 142006Z DEC 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4624
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0369
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0167
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0282
UNCLAS OTTAWA 003594
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAN, WHA/EPSC, AF/E, AF/EPS, AND IO
DEPARTMENT PASS USAID/AFR AND DCHA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON CA ET KE SO
SUBJECT: CANADIAN AID TO FLOOD-AFFECTED PEOPLE IN HORN OF
AFRICA
1. (U) Summary: Canada is giving C$2.67 million to assist
flood-affected people in the Horn of Africa. International
Cooperation Minister Verner said that hundreds of thousands
of children and adults will receive food, safe drinking
water, and shelter as a result of the GoC contribution. The
money is being distributed through international agencies and
Canadian NGOs to people in Kenya (C$720,000), Somalia (C$1.35
million) and Ethiopia (C$598,800). End summary.
2. (U) On December 11, Canadian International Cooperation
Minister Josee Verner announced that Canada is allocating
C$2.67 million ($2.3 million) to help flood-affected people
in the Horn of Africa. Heavy rains in recent months have
turned large areas of Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia into flood
disaster zones, resulting in loss of life, and the massive
displacement of people who have lost their homes, livelihood,
and possessions. According to the Canadian International
Cooperation Agency, more than 1.6 million people have been
affected. Outbreaks of cholera have been detected, and
relief agencies expect an increase in the incidence of
malaria.
3. (U) Minister Verner said that Canada's support will help
victims of the flooding by providing trusted humanitarian aid
partners with the resources they need to respond quickly and
effectively, adding that hundreds of thousands of children
and adults will receive food, safe drinking water and other
provisions such as shelter kits and mosquito bed nets as a
result of Canada's aid.
4. (U) The new Canadian aid will be distributed to Kenya,
Ethiopia and Somalia:
Kenya (C$720,000):
-- C$400,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the provision of seed
and farm implements, access to clean water and sanitation,
and to monitor and evaluate the state of the flooding;
-- C$120,000 to World Vision Canada to reduce the likelihood
of epidemic outbreaks like malaria and cholera through the
distribution of drug treatment kits;
-- C$200,000 to Save the Children Canada to provide about
64,000 children with non-food items such as hygiene kits and
clothing.
Somalia (C$1.35 million):
-- C$400,000 to CARE Canada to assist about 50,000
flood-affected people in southern Somalia with emergency aid
in the coming six months;
-- C$300,000 to the World Food Program to provide logistical
air support to UN and non-governmental agencies to facilitate
relief operations;
-- C$250,000 to the World Health Organization for its work in
assessing health infrastructure as well as support health
clinics which distribute drugs and medical supplies;
-- C$400,000 to UNICEF to supply safe drinking water as well
as hygiene and sanitation service to the affected population.
Ethiopia (C$598,800):
-- C$290,000 to the IFRC to provide non-food items,
rehabilitate the water supply systems and increase awareness
of hygiene related issues among the displaced people;
-- C$200,000 to Oxfam Canada to provide household items and
improve access to safe drinking water to about 1,370
households;
-- C$106,800 to Save the Children Canada for the provision of
items such as shelter materials, cooking utensils, blankets
and seeds for over 1,000 households.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS