HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

25/01/2008

: "Entire Region Threatened by Rising Floods" CANADA'S LEADING RELIEF AGENCIES PARTNER TO RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY OF FLOODS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA Jan 25, 2008 – Four of Canada's largest relief agencies are joining together to raise funds for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by massive flooding that is extending across much of Southern Africa. Without a significant and rapid investment of aid, survivors face the threat of death from water-borne disease and malnutrition, and families living in temporary camps are unable to protect their livelihoods.

For weeks, the situation has grown worse as heavy rain continues to fall over Zambia, southern Malawi and northern Mozambique, engorging rivers in these countries that drain into the Zambezi river, which flows through central Mozambique. The geographical area affected continues to grow. The number of people affected in the region continues to rise. Over 100,000 people are known to have been displaced from their homes. This includes 78,000 people in Mozambique, more than 10,000 in Zimbabwe, and 16,650 in Zambia, according to government and partner assessments. Hundreds of thousands more have also been affected, mainly through the likely loss of their crops. In Mozambique alone an additional 170,000 are expected to need assistance for covering their basic needs. CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, and Save the Children Canada are appealing to Canadians to support these agencies' emergency relief efforts through a single mechanism called THE HUMANITARIAN COALITION (http://www.humanitariancoalition.ca). The partners are issuing a joint appeal for donations to help the agencies deliver aid to help some of the more than 100,000 people displaced, and thousands more affected, by the floods across Southern Africa. Through a single toll-free number, Canadian donations will be allocated to where they will be most effective. "As flood levels continue to rise, our main concern is the lack of clean water, food and shelter," Pierre Veronneau, of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION and Executive Director of Oxfam-Québec. "As well, the threat of diarrhea, malaria and cholera needs to be addressed immediately." Coalition members have ongoing long-term development programs in the four countries most affected by the flooding. The emergency response will be focused on identifying and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, which include infants and small children, and the elderly. Emergency programs will typically initially include the delivery of safe drinking water, food, shelter materials, medical assistance, and hygiene kits; and after the floodwaters recede, assistance with rebuilding homes and community structures such as schools. "The needs are great, but we are confident that by working together, we can help meet the needs of survivors of this disaster," said David Morley, of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION and President and CEO of Save the Children Canada. "We are asking Canadians to support these efforts generously." With a combined presence in 83 countries the coordinated marketing and fundraising efforts by the members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION has proven in past emergencies to be both cost-effective and to have a greater impact in responding to emergencies. As in other emergencies, the Coalition has established one call centre for accepting donations, one national toll-free phone number, and a joint website for online donations - in order to make donating easy for Canadians. Public service announcements and web communications are coordinated to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information available on the needs in the emergency, to Canadians. Canadians are asked to donate to THE HUMANITARIAN COALITION by calling 1-800-464-9154, logging onto http://www.humanitariancoalition.ca website, or by mailing donations to THE HUMANITARIAN COALITION, PO Box 7023,  Ottawa, ON, K1L 5A0. -30- Note to Editors: This is the 3rd Coalition initiative for the four agencies. Previous campaigns include the Joint Earthquake Appeal, which responded to the earthquake in South Asia in 2005, and the HUMANITARIAN COALITION appeal in response to the crisis in the Middle East in 2006. For background on the mission and current programmes run by the four agencies, please visit http://www.humanitariancoalition.ca. For more information: Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, Media Relations (CARE Canada), HUMANITARIAN COALITION, Tel: 613.228.5678, Cell: 613.799.7562 Alexandra Lopoukhine Media relations (Oxfam Canada), Tel: 613.237.5236 x222 Cell: 613.850.9723 (cell) Justine Lesage, Media relations (Oxfam-Québec & French Lead), Tel: 1.514.382.7922 Ext. 237 Cell: 514.513.0013 Carol Tisshaw, Media relations (Save the Children Canada), Tel: 416.221.5501 Ext. 305 Cell: 647.273.7134