ID :
209386
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 09:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209386
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea raises drought aid to Horn of Africa
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is sharply increasing its funding to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people suffering from recurring droughts in the Horn of Africa, officials said Monday.
Seoul will increase its funding to US$50 million by 2013, compared with $5 million announced earlier, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. About 13 million people in the East African nations, including Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda, are affected by the worst drought in decades and lack of food, the United Nations said.
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan announced the new funding plan late last week at an international conference in New York on famine in the Horn of Africa, the statement said.
"The Korean government will continue to work with the international community to help minimize damage caused by the drought in the East African region," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Seoul government is using its national flag carrier's cargo charter flights to transport U.N. relief supplies to the Horn of Africa, ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae told reporters.
Korean Air's cargo charter flights are operating weekly between Brussels of Belgium and Mombasa of Kenya, marking a rare case where a private air carrier helps deliver an international organization's relief goods, Cho said.
Seoul will increase its funding to US$50 million by 2013, compared with $5 million announced earlier, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. About 13 million people in the East African nations, including Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda, are affected by the worst drought in decades and lack of food, the United Nations said.
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan announced the new funding plan late last week at an international conference in New York on famine in the Horn of Africa, the statement said.
"The Korean government will continue to work with the international community to help minimize damage caused by the drought in the East African region," the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Seoul government is using its national flag carrier's cargo charter flights to transport U.N. relief supplies to the Horn of Africa, ministry spokesman Cho Byung-jae told reporters.
Korean Air's cargo charter flights are operating weekly between Brussels of Belgium and Mombasa of Kenya, marking a rare case where a private air carrier helps deliver an international organization's relief goods, Cho said.
