Canada adds $50M for relief efforts

[Somalina]

Saturday, July 23, 2011

 

The Canadian government is pledging an additional $50 million in aid for famine-relief efforts in East Africa and urging Canadians to be generous in donations toward alleviating the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.

The announcement came as the World Health Organization warned famine conditions are likely to spread to more areas of Somalia as militant groups refuse to allow aid agencies to operate in some of the hardest-hit parts of the country.

 

Meanwhile, thousands of refugees continue to stream into camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, some walking for days or weeks to reach assistance.

 

In addition to government funds, Ottawa will match any donations Canadians make individually to charities working on drought-relief efforts in the region.

 

"I believe, I truly believe, that you cannot witness this type of suffering, this kind of situation without responding," said International Co-Operation Minister Bev Oda on a conference call from Kenya.

 

"I believe Canadians should be proud of what our government is doing on their behalf and our responsibility as a government is to ensure that people will get the help they need."

 

The minister is in eastern Africa to meet officials at the Dadaab camp in Kenya. The complex was originally built to hold around 90,000 people but the UN says it is now hosting over 380,000.

 

Half of Canada's donation will go toward food aid through the World Food Program, while the other half will be for supplies, water and sanitation and also channelled through UN agencies.

 

At the refugee camps, 7.5 million litres of water a day are being handed out, said Kevin McCort, president of CARE Canada, an arm of the international aid agency running the Dadaab camp.

 

Throughout Kenya, the World Food Program is spending $9 million a month to feed about half a million people, he said.

 

"When you're looking at 11 million people in urgent need and then many millions more that we hope never get to that, the $50 million is a good contribution," he said.

 

Aid agencies had hoped Canada would give a minimum of $40 million.

 

To date, Canada has contributed more than $70 million this year to humanitarian aid in East Africa. According to figures compiled by Oxfam Canada, the announcement on Friday makes Canada the second-largest donor, so far.

 

"It sends a really clear signal to some of the international donors, such as Germany or France or Italy or even South Africa and China and other countries who should be stepping up to the plate and have not done so to the extent that they could," said Robert Fox, executive director of Oxfam Canada.

 

The matching program is similar to one the government ran in response to the earthquake in Haiti, which raised more than $200 million.

 

Each dollar Canadians give to a registered charity doing work in East Africa will be matched by the federal government through the East Africa drought relief fund. The program is retroactive to July 6 and will run until Sept. 16, after which the government will decide how to allocate the funds.

 

There has been an increase in donations from Canadians over the last several days, said Fox.

 

"The fact that the government is matching the contributions helps overcome a certain reticence, or a certain distance some people have in these situations because it is an added incentive," said Fox.

 

International aid groups began sounding the alarm about food security in the Horn of Africa last year as severe drought began to afflict Somalia and parts of Kenya and Ethiopia.

 

In Somalia, drought devolved into famine because the Somali government and many aid agencies are banned from areas under control of the military group al-Shabab.

 

The Canadian Press, with files from The Associated Press

[London2010]

What about muslim countries, what have they been doing. Britain has given tens of millions and the USA hundreds of millions.

Where are the muslims standing up and raising money for relief. They doing nothing, cause they are nothing.

[Somalina]

KUWAIT- Kuwait pledges its commitment to coming to the aid of the people of Somalia at times of distress in the quickest way possible, Health Minister, Hilal Al-Sayer said Wednesday.

 

Kuwait has been a staunch supporter of aiding troubled nations like Somalia under the guidance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the minister said in a statement.

 

Some two aid planes carrying 20 tonnes of food, medicine and tents are set to head out to Somalia in a days' time, he noted, commending Acting Premier and Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, for his efforts in supervising a direct air route from Abdullah Al-Mubarak Military Airbase to the troubled African nation.

 

The Kuwait Red Crescent was one of the first organisations to have acted swiftly to the distress calls, he emphasised.

And, this aid will continue to arrive until living conditions for the drought victims are improved, he concluded.

 

Kuwait has pledged USD 10 million in aid for the Somalian people, who are sufferring from malnutrition and famine as a result of the worst drought to have hit the nation in 10 years.

[Somalina]

Amir Praised For $100 Mln Aid

KUWAIT CITY, July 21: Somalia, which is located in the Horn of Africa, has been experiencing the worst famine over the last two decades, says Arab Parliament Chairman MP Ali Al-Deqbasi.

In a press statement Thursday, Al-Deqbasi described the current situation in the country as tragic, saying it is the most terrible human disaster in recent history. He praised HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for donating $100 million to Somalia and for his directive to Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) to prepare two airplanes to transport relief goods and medicines to help the people in that country.

 

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/171709/reftab/36/Default.aspx

[Aaliyyah]

Lets hope all that money that is being donated helps those poor ppl, sometimes u never know dad kale ba lacagta af u dhigta u know..

 

salaam

 

p.s LOl somalina u had to bold that eh..

[Somalina]

indhaha faraha laga geliyaa trollkaan. lol

[Somalina]

Olole dhaqaale loogu ururinayo dadka Soomaaliyeed ee ay abaaruhu ku habsadeen oo lagu qabtay Kanada

 

 

Isniin, July 25, 2011 (HOL) – Kummaan qof ayaa isugu soo ururay barxad weyn oo ku taalla bartamaha magaalada Ottawa ee dalka Kanada shalay, si loo ururiyaan dhaqaale lagu taageero dadka Soomaaliyeed ee ay macluushu ku habsatay. Iyadoo ololahan uu soo qabanqaabiyay urur lagu magacaabo Somali Relief Ottawa, dadka goobtaas isugu yimid waxaa ka mid ahaa dhallinyarada Soomaali-Kanadiyanka ah.

Dhaqaalaha ololahan lagu ururiyay ayaa gaaray 25,000 oo doolar, waxaana lagu caawin doonaa dadka ay abaaruhu ku habsadeen, iyadoo lala kaashanayo ururro ka shaqeeya gudaha Soomaaliya, gaar ahaan goobaha ay abaaraha darani ku dhufteen.

 

"Shucuurta dadka Soomaaliyeed ee ku nool dalka Kanada waa mid sare u kacday, intooda badan waxay qorsheynayaan inay bixiyaan dhaqaale ay ku taageeraaan walaalahooda u baahan gargaarka," ayaa laga sheegay goobta.

 

Ururka Somalia Relief Ottawa ayaa todobaadkan dhammaadkiisa sameynaya olole kale oo uu dhaqaale ku ururinayo, wuxuuna qorsheynayaan in dhaqaalaha lagu saacidayo Soomaalida gudaha ku dhibaateysan la gaarsiiyo 35,000 oo dollar.

 

 

idoo kale, waxaa ka mid ah dadka dhaqaalaha bixinayay murashaxa xisbiga NDP ee koonfurta Ottawa Weli Faarax oo Soomaali ah.

Dhacdadan dhaqaalaha lagu ururinayay ayaa waxay soo jiidatay noocyada saxaafadda ka jirta Kanada sida: Telefishinnada CTV News, CBC TV, CBC Radio, University of Ottawa Radio iyo Ottawa Citizen.

 

Wixii faahfaahin dheeraad ah fadlan kala xiriira Somali Relief Ottawa, idinkoo kala xiriiraya E-mailka ah: somalireliefottawa@gmail.com.

 

Maxamed Xaaji Xuseen, Hiiraan Onilne

maxuseen@hiiraan.com

Muqdisho, Soomaaliya

[Somalina]

Charitable agencies push for B.C. residents to help drought-stricken Somalia

British Columbia’s charitable groups are pushing for donations to aid drought-stricken East Africa as a deadline looms for matching funds from the federal government.

 

So far, B.C. is the third most generous province in Canada when it comes to contributing to relief efforts to the region.

 

The massive drought is affecting 12.4 million people, according to the United Nations, with the most serious famine situation in Somalia. Also affected are Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda — other countries in the so-called Horn of Africa.

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Charitable+agencies+push+residents+help+drought+stricken+Somalia/5212141/story.html#ixzz1UHfUFV64

[Somalina]

$2M private donation for Africa famine relief

 

Canadian efforts to raise money for famine relief in Africa received a huge boost on Wednesday.

 

A Toronto couple gave $2 million to the Canadian Red Cross Horn of Africa Drought fund, while the Ontario government promised another $1 million for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the region.

 

The private donation was made by Kroum and Eva Pindoff, the founders of Music World.

 

"After seeing stark images of this tremendous tragedy and misery, our family has decided to do what we can to alleviate the suffering," said Kroum Pindoff in a news release.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/08/03/toronto-africa-famine.html

[Somalina]

Big ups to Islamic Relief Canada. May Allah reward you immensely!

[Somalina]

Somali-Canadians Launch Humanitarian Appeal on Ogaal Radio.

Monday, July 18, 2011

 

Toronto- Shocked by the unfolding humanitarian disaster that is afflicting their war-torn nation, Somali-Canadians are taking action to help alleviate the ongoing suffering in Somalia.

The Abar Project spearheaded by ARAN Somali-Canadian Relief Organization, has launched a fundraising appeal during a live broadcast on Ogaal Radio, 88.9FM on Sunday, July 17th. Ogaal is the largest Somali language Radio Program in Canada reaching over 150,000 listeners in the Greater Toronto Area and across Southern Ontario every Sundays between 10:00pm - Midnight and millions throughout the world over the internet. Abar is Somali for draught and the project hopes to mobilize Somali-Canadians to take direct action to help mitigate the humanitarian crisis.

Anchor Hassan “Karate” was joined in the studio by two prominent Somali-Canadian activists from ARAN, Souad Caymis and Hassan Sheikh Adan to appeal to Somali-Canadians to donate generously toward the relief campaign for the victims of the humanitarian disaster in Somalia.

Somalia has been hit by the worst draught in 60 years and seniour UN officials have declared it “the worst humanitarian crisis” in the world today. Approximately 3000 refugees cross into neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia each passing day while thousands others are displaced inside Somalia.

Visibly emotional over the airwaves, Souad Caymis spoke of the horrifying conditions facing the victims of disaster saying that children are dying on the way to refugee camps and called upon the Somali-Canadian community to urgently lend a helping hand.

“The most vulnerable in Somalia have no voice. This crisis is a wake- up call for all of us. We must take immediate action to help the needy. We call for a Somali-led Initiative to confront the humanitarian disaster. We don’t have to wait for others to act. We should take action of our own to rescue the suffering masses” said Souad.

Hassan “Karate” urged Somali-Canadians to support the Abar Project, an initiative of the ARAN Somali-Canadian Relief Organization.

“The human suffering stemming from this disaster is beyond comprehension. Left with no food and water, people have been trekking long distances in search of help. Many have fallen on the way. As Somali-Canadians, we must do everything in our power to alleviate this suffering” said Hassan “Karate”.

Hassan Sheikh reminded the public that donations toward the Abar Project are tax deductible as ARAN has a charitable status.

“The Abar Project is an initiative of the Somali residents of Lawrence and Weston neighbouhood of Toronto. ARAN is an autonomous organization that promotes self-directed, community-based action. There are no aid organizations on the ground in the worst affected areas in Somalia such as Bay and Bakool regions etc. We must start by utilizing our own resources to help our people” said Hassan Sheikh.

The Somali people are caring says Hassan Sheikh but more needs to be done. He noted that ARAN has launched a letter writing campaign targeting Canadian government officials and urged Somali-Canadians to help bring about policy changes so that Canada can respond more effectively to the humanitarian disaster that has hit Somalia hard. ARAN is planning to organize a number of fundraising events to assist the victims of disaster in Somalia. The organization is also launching a clothing drive as part of its ongoing relief efforts.

Earlier in the broadcast, Sheikh Abokor of Toronto's Khalid Bin Al-Walid Mosque appealed to Somali-Canadians to donate generously toward the humanitarian cause stating that it is a moral and religious obligation to help the most vulnerable in their most difficult hour.

Local mosques, including Khalid Bin Al-Walid and IMO are collecting donations for the victims of disaster. These donations are being channeled through Human Concern International, an NGO that operates in 34 countries including Somalia. The Somali money transfer company, Dahabshiil, is also accepting donations that are being sent directly to victims of disaster housed in the Hager Dheer refugee camp.

 

During a phone-in session that solicited the views of Ogaal Radio listenership, Somali-Canadians expressed their concerns and pledged to take action. Many callers emphasized the significance of Somali unity in addressing this monumental crisis afflicting their beloved nation. A united front that transcends clannish and regional loyalties is key to resolving the crisis.

To donate money toward the Somali Humanitarian cause, people can reach ARAN’s Abar Project by phone at (416) 873-1948.

[Muslim1st-Somali2nd]

London2010;736013 wrote:

What about muslim countries, what have they been doing. Britain has given tens of millions and the USA hundreds of millions.

Where are the muslims standing up and raising money for relief. They doing nothing, cause they are nothing.

Muslims dont need publicity. We dont give charity to show off nor do we tell others what we have given.

[Somalina]

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/1088662943001

[Somalina]

Toronto-Ottawa walk for famine coming up soon InshaAllah.

Albertans rock!

 

===

Saturday, August 06, 2011

 

A group of young Somali-Canadians are walking to raise money and draw attention to the famine in east Africa.

The group, made up of seven cousins, calls themselves Step UP for Somalia.

 

The teenagers are walking from Calgary to Edmonton this weekend.

 

They say their walk symbolizes the walk many Somalis are making in Africa on their way to refugee camps in Kenya.

 

The group's goal was to raise $10,000 but they have surpassed that and have now raised more than $12,000.

 

This week the federal government stepped up too and will match their donations.

 

"Well we are all of Somali heritage and we have been watching what's going on in the media. Reading about it in the news papers and you know what people are always sloughing it off not doing anything about it and we thought we could do something in our own unique way , as responsible people and make a difference," said Madina Abdi.

 

The group is still accepting donations throughout the weekend.

 

For more information or to make a donation visit the Step UP for Somalia website.

[Somalina]

Aran Somali Canadian Relief Organization

 

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