Humanitarian Emergency Fund

The first funding released from the Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) will be allocated to the East Africa crisis.

The funding, split between the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal and non-DEC members of the HEF panel, will support vulnerable families in East Africa suffering from the effects of the famine and food crisis.

An estimated 23 million people across South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, with half a million children under five being at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition.

Minister for International Development and Europe Alasdair Allan, said:

“This first release of funding from the HEF for East Africa will enable us to provide immediate and effective assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, demonstrating Scotland’s role as a responsible global citizen.

“The panel bring together representatives from leading aid agencies across Scotland to work collaboratively. This sense of connection is a key strength of the Panel’s work and I am confident it will enable us to make a real difference to some of those most in need in the future.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Panel to tackle humanitarian emergencies and help those in need to find their way out of poverty and into a dignified, fulfilling life for themselves and their families.”

Background

The Scottish Government has agreed to release funding of £235,000 from the £1 million HEF for the East Africa crisis. Adding to the £200,000 donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal in March, this funding will be allocated between DEC  Appeal and non-DEC members of the HEF Panel.

The Humanitarian Emergency Fund, launched in April 2017, is intended to provide immediate, life-saving aid in the aftermath of a crisis: https://news.gov.scot/news/humanitarian-fund

The HEF panel is made up of eight representatives from leading humanitarian aid organisations in Scotland: Mercy Corps, Oxfam, British Red Cross, Mission Aviation Fellowship, SCIAF, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Save the Children.