Contribution to international development report: 2017-2018

Chapter Six - Humanitarian Emergency Fund

6.1. Introduction

Scotland has a longstanding history of contributing aid to humanitarian crises, both through the UK Government's Department for International Development and through its own non-government organisations, local charities and individuals.

However, in recognition of Scotland's role as a good global citizen, Scottish Ministers have wished to respond to international humanitarian crises as well. In the 2016-17 Programme for Government the Scottish Government committed to delivering a £1 million per annum Humanitarian Emergency Fund ( HEF). In 2017-18, the Fund supported four humanitarian emergency responses, these are summarised in Annex D and the 2017-18 Annual Report can be found here.

6.2 Humanitarian Emergency Fund ( HEF)

Infographic:

6.2.1. Background

The HEF is split equally into two funding streams for contributions to pre-existing emergency responses. Stream 1 is for emergencies that lead to a DEC Appeal being triggered. Stream 2 is for emergencies that are not anticipated to lead to a DEC Appeal and is based on recommendations from the HEF Panel.

The expert HEF Panel was established following a competitive process and is comprised of leading humanitarian aid agencies in Scotland. The HEF Panel members are: British Red Cross, Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children, Mission Aviation Fellowship ( MAF), Mercy Corps, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund ( SCIAF), and Tearfund. This year, the HEF sent aid to help with the humanitarian crisis in the DRC:

6.2.2. Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Eastern provinces of the DRC have struggled for decades with some of the world's most relentless emergencies. Unfortunately, the humanitarian situation in the DRC has become significantly worse during the past 12 months and now the central Kasai region is also facing an acute crisis. In less than a year the escalating conflict between the Congolese authorities and a local militia known as Kamwina Nsapu has displaced 1.4 million people from the Kasai region.

With the sudden escalation in violence, the number of Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs) and those in need of emergency assistance has risen dramatically, adding to an already complex and dangerous situation. In the DRC there are now 4.3 million people displaced from their homes and 9.9 million are considered food insecure. Furthermore, outbreaks of communicable diseases have spread rapidly across the country affecting many thousands, whilst gender based violence against women and children is all too common. Children are also recruited as child soldiers for armed militia and rebel groups, and girls risk being separated from their families and abused as concubines by military leaders.

6.2.3. HEF Response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2017-2018

• £97,920 was granted to the Christian Aid project to support 630 households (3,150 people) with non-food items, hygiene kits, shelter kits and training to manage their resources.
• £97,922 was granted to the SCIAF project to support 2,220 people with food provisions and non-food items, agricultural training, psychosocial, legal and health services, and conflict resolution activities.
• £97,920 was granted to the Tearfund project to construct ten water-points to provide clean water for up to 44,498 people.