The federal Government’s allocation of $29 million to alleviate the impact of famine and conflict in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East will save lives and ease the impact of malnutrition, the Help Fight Famine campaign coalition said today.
Australia will contribute $29 million from the Humanitarian Emergency Fund to partners in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, including:
• $15 million to address increased humanitarian, displacement and protection needs of people in drought-affected areas in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
• $4 million to provide food and nutrition support to the most vulnerable in Yemen.
• $10 million for food and monetary assistance to refugees and vulnerable populations in Lebanon and Jordan.
Today’s commitment is additional to the $40 million allocated to famine relief in the 2022-23 Budget.
The decision has been strongly endorsed by campaign spokesperson, Reverend Tim Costello.
“Help Fight Famine strongly endorses this decision from Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the Albanese Government. When combined with previous commitments, Australia has now made a decent contribution to the global famine response. Australian efforts will alleviate suffering and prevent deaths.
“Of course with more we can do more. We fully acknowledge Australia’s efforts and will continue making the case for Australia to invest in creating a stronger, safer world for all.”
The recent Global Report on Food Crises led by the Food Security Information Network reported that 258 million people across 58 countries are now experiencing acute hunger, meaning their life or livelihood is in danger. That is an additional 65 million people since last year.
In the Horn of Africa, the situation is especially dire. According to the World Food Programme, 90 per cent of the Somalian population are battling “insufficient food consumption.” Among children under five, 11.8 per cent are suffering acute malnutrition and 27.8 per cent have chronic malnutrition.
The sudden onset of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, the mass movement of people fleeing that conflict and risk of disruption to agriculture in the Nile River are likely to make this situation even more dire.
In March, Help Fight Famine released polling found strong and growing support for Australia’s aid effort. The YouGov survey found that even with a raging cost of living crisis, a growing majority of Australian voters, 60 percent, support the Australian government funding overseas aid to developing countries. That increased from 52 per cent in 2019 and 57 per cent in 2021.
Help Fight Famine spokesperson and Oxfam Australia CEO, Lyn Morgain, said Australians understood the benefit of investing for a fairer world.
“Overlapping challenges and crises are making the world more dangerous and the global hunger crisis is one of the clearest examples. The impact of extreme weather is made worse by global warming and exacerbated even further by shocks such as the invasion of Ukraine or the pandemic.
“While we can’t precisely predict the next crisis, we know that it will come. To prevent full-blown catastrophes it is prudent and essential for Australia to invest in a fairer and safer world. This is not just right, it is also smart.”
For interview requests: Nick Lucchinelli 0422 229 032
Famine relief will help world’s most vulnerable
Help Fight Famine 2 mins readMore from this category
- Manufacturing, Political
- 12/12/2025
- 12:19
AWU welcomes government action to secure Tomago’s future
The Australian Workers' Union has strongly endorsed today's announcement that theTomago aluminium smelter will remain operational, with federal and state governments committing to work with Rio Tinto on a long-term solution. “This is a pivotal moment for Australian manufacturing,” AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said. "The AWU has been knocking on every door - federal, state, company, thought leaders - to make sure the right people were talking to each other and working toward a solution. We're pleased that effort has paid off. "For months we've been saying that Tomago isn't just another industrial site. It's the test case for…
- Oil Mining Resources, Political
- 12/12/2025
- 12:06
MEU: Coal communities need stability and consistency following Net Zero Commission report
The Mining and Energy Union has responded to the NSW Net Zero Commission’s Coal Mining Emissions Spotlight Report, emphasising the continuing importance of coal mining to the state's economy and regional communities, and the need for clear, consistent emissions policy. MEU General Secretary Grahame Kelly said coal mining remains a foundation of regional prosperity in NSW, supporting jobs, local small businesses and billions in annual state revenue. “Coal mining delivers more than $3 billion a year in royalties for NSW and supports thousands of secure, well-paid regional jobs,” Mr Kelly said. “It also accounts forjust12 per cent of the state’s…
- Political
- 11/12/2025
- 11:51
Not meaningful reform: workers lose under compensation cuts
Psychologically injured workers who are close to catatonic will have their support payments cut under new laws agreed to between the Government and the Liberals and Nationals. Despite repeated evidence that a WPI of more than 21% means a worker has no capacity to work, the Parliament looks set to raise the threshold for income support to 25%, before ratcheting up to 28 per cent by 2029. “The parliament has failed to deliver meaningful reform. Instead, it has taken a sledgehammer to the entitlements of traumatised and vulnerable workers,” said Thomas Costa, acting Secretary of Unions NSW. Under the changes,…
Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.
Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.