Welthungerhilfe welcomes increased funding for provisions and long term programs through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 

(15.8.2011) Welthungerhilfe welcomes the increase in funding for the drought victims at the Horn of Africa announced by Development Minister Niebel. “We find it particularly positive that more than half of the funding for provisions and long term programs will be made available,” says Bärbel Dieckmann, President of Welthungerhilfe.

“Currently, emergency relief is the priority, but at the same time additional aid must be initiated to provide better protection in future against extended dry periods for the people at the Horn of Africa. We must make provision already now for the droughts of tomorrow. Farmers need new and improved seed, because the emergency situation forced the depletion of stored supplies and nomadic people need to have their dead livestock replaced as this is their only means of earning a living. The building of wells, dams and rainwater catchment must also be reinforced.”  

Welthungerhilfe has asked for increased support for the rural regions in the developing countries for years. Here is what Wolfgang Jamann, General Secretary of Welthungerhilfe, has to say: “The battle against hunger is fought in the country, as two out of three starving people live in rural regions. There are also some success stories. It has been shown that it was possible to reduce the ramifications of droughts in regions where the respective projects have proven effective while neglected regions have slipped into critical ranges. Successes of that description cannot be achieved from one day to the next. They will need staying power.”  

Welthungerhilfe has had a long term commitment in Kenya and Ethiopia since the seventies. Effective water management, farming methods adapted to the drought regions and improved rural infrastructures such as the building of roads are some of the focal points of planning.