Minister of State Tom Kitt TD departs for week long visit to Malawi and Zambia
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Tom Kitt TD, today leaves for a weeklong visit to Southern Africa which will conclude in Johannesburg at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The Minister, who recently announced a further pledge of over €5M in emergency aid to tackle the current food crisis in Southern Africa, wishes to witness first hand the current challenges facing both the developing countries which are affected as well as those providing assistance.
He will travel to some of the areas that have been hardest hit by the crisis in Malawi and will meet with representatives of both local and Irish NGOs, as well as multilateral donors and Government officials.
On leaving Malawi, the Minister will travel to Ndola in the Copperbelt region of Zambia. This region has been devastated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic with infection rates reaching as high as 30% in the adult population in certain areas. Ireland Aid is working closely with communities, local organizations and the Zambian Government to address the huge challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Ireland Aid programme is at the very forefront among the international donor community in the fight against HIV/AIDS. By the end of this year alone the Irish Government will have committed close to €50M on HIV/AIDS related initiatives across all its programmes in Africa, building on the additional commitment of resources made by the Taoiseach in 2000.
Before departing, the Minister said:
“The purpose of this visit is to give me an accurate and up to date assessment of what is currently happening on the ground in a region of the world, which is facing horrific problems - acute food shortages and the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis.
While briefings and reports provide an important insight into the current situation in Southern Africa, they can never convey the real impact on peoples' very existence. It is this more personal understanding that I want to bring to Johannesburg.
The Summit in Johannesburg is a chance for the international community to make a real difference to the lives and futures of the poorest of the poor. It is their voice that must be listened to, understood and most of all acted upon.”
Background Note:
In total, Southern Africa has received nearly €8M in funding from Ireland Aid in 2002. This represents 40% of the overall emergency budget for 2002. The funding has been distributed through our partners which include international organizations, the UN system and local and Irish NGOs.
Detailed Breakdown of spending in southern Africa 2002:
Donor Amount Country Sector/Activity Channel
IRELAND
€212,000 Angola Emergency Health Care Programme NGO / Concern
€384,000 Angola Emergency Mine Clearance Programme NGO / Halo Trust
€250,000 Angola Child and Maternal Mortality Programme UN / UNICEF
€250,000 Angola Water, Environmental Sanitation & Hygiene Programme UN / UNICEF
€600,000 Angola Emergency Food Assistance Programme UN / WFP
€253,000 Angola Landmine Victim Assistance Programme NGO / Handicap International
€140,000 Angola Educational Recovery Programme NGO / Trocaire
€345,000 Angola Sanitation and Hygiene Education Programme NGO / GOAL
€250,000 Angola Food Security Programme & Agricultural Recovery NGO / Trocaire
Total Allocated to Date €2,684,000
€500,000 Malawi Emergency Food Security Programme NGO / Concern
€250,000 Malawi Emergency Feeding & Health Programmes NGO / Concern Universal (UK)
€144,000 Malawi Emergency Nutrition & Health Programme NGO / GOAL
€300,000 Malawi Emergency Feeding Operation UN / WFP
€157,000 Malawi Emergency Relief for Vulnerable Households NGO / Concern
€300,000 Malawi Emergency Relief Programme NGO / Concern Universal (UK)
Total Allocated to Date €1,651,000
€290,000 Swaziland Emergency Food Relief and Security Programme NGO / World Vision
Total Allocated to Date €290,000
€300,000 Lesotho Emergency Food Assistance Programme UN / WFP
Total Allocated to Date
€300,000
€500,000 Zimbabwe Food Aid Programme NGO / Concern
€300,000 Zimbabwe Emergency Seed Programme NGO / Christian Aid Irl.
€400,000 Zimbabwe Nutritional Support Programme NGO / Trocaire
Total Allocated to Date €1,200,000
€1,000,000 Regional Contributions EMOP 102 00 Regional Emergency Appeal UN / WFP
€500,000 Regional Contributions Food Insecurity Appeal 12/02 Southern Africa Red Cross / IFRC
€250,000 Regional Contribution Food Security and Health Programme (Malawi & Zambia) NGO / Oxfam Irl.
Total Allocated to Date €1,750,000
TOTAL €7,875,000
