WELLINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is contributing 7 million NZ dollars (4.14 million U.S. dollars) to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia.
New Zealand remains deeply concerned over the people in both countries impacted by conflict as well as other overlapping crises including climate-related shocks and disease outbreaks, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday.
More than 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people in need in Somalia, said Peters, also New Zealand's deputy prime minister.
To help meet urgent needs, New Zealand is partnering with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations' Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund, and New Zealand non-governmental organizations under the New Zealand Disaster Response Partnership, he said.
New Zealand's contributions to the ICRC will support its provision of healthcare support, food and essential items, and protection in Ethiopia and Somalia, the minister said. ■
