Christian relief organization thankful for federal matching funds
CALGARY, Aug. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - A $1.1-million grant from the federal
government's Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has
helped Samaritan's Purse Canada provide desperately needed emergency
water to thousands of children and adults in eastern Kenya during a
prolonged drought in the region.
The grant, through CIDA's International Humanitarian Assistance
Directorate, was used by Samaritan's Purse between Jan. 15 and July 15,
2012 to address long-term water security and access needs in the
Garissa and Tana River counties of eastern Kenya. Samaritan's Purse was
able to:
-
Regularly deliver emergency water to about 9,300 children and adults in
Tana River and Garissa.
-
Rehabilitate 15 boreholes or water wells and 10 dug-out water reservoirs
in the communities.
The United Nations says more than 13.3 million children and adults in
Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti are suffering through the
region's worst drought in 60 years. They are desperate for water and
food.
CIDA created the East Africa Drought Relief Fund, through which the
federal government matched every dollar individual Canadians
contributed to Canadian registered charities between July 6 and Sept.
16, 2011 in response to the African drought. That response totaled
$70.4 million. CIDA disbursed the funds to Samaritan's Purse Canada and
13 other experienced Canadian and international relief and development
organizations.
"We wish to formally thank CIDA and the Canadian government for their
generous support of the drought relief work in which Samaritan's Purse
and other aid organizations are engaged in east Africa, said Fred
Weiss, Samaritan's Purse Canada's executive director. "We are grateful
for their funding partnership with us."
CIDA has allocated $161.1 million since December 2010 to help east
African drought victims.
Donations Needed
Through direct support from individual Canadians, Samaritan's Purse is
continuing to provide water and food to thirsty and famished children
and families in eastern Kenya. To support Samaritan's Purse's disaster
relief efforts, please visit http://www.samaritanspurse.ca (click on "Ways to Give") or call 1-800-663-6500.
About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse Canada is an international Christian relief and
development organization working in about 40 countries to help victims
of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The
charity also operates the well-known Operation Christmas Child program
that sends gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children around the world
each year, and raises funds for life-saving BioSand Water Filters in
the developing world. Go to http://www.samaritanspurse.ca for more information.
SOURCE: Samaritan's Purse Canada