Dear Constituents:

Minister Bev Oda visited the Dadaab refugee camps in East Africa on Friday and announced that our Government will increase its financial support to East Africa by an additional $50M and establish the East Africa Drought Relief Fund to help the victims of the severe drought now affecting approximately 11 million people in East Africa.  This is in addition to the $22.35 million provided by CIDA earlier this year for humanitarian assistance in the region.

Our Government has also created a matching fund program for East Africa.  For every dollar an individual Canadian donates over a 10-week period (retroactive to July 6, 2011, and ending September 16, 2011) to a registered Canadian charity responding to the drought in East Africa, the Government will contribute an equivalent amount to the East Africa Drought Relief Fund.

Today, I am making my own donation to the East Africa Drought Relief Fund through World Vision, and I encourage you to do the same. As Canadians we have a great history of generosity and willingness to help those in need. Now is the time when help is needed again.

Below are registered Canadian charities responding to this crisis in East Africa that have agreed not to work with the recognized terrorist organization Al-Shabaab. Please visit one of these sites today and make your donation.


World Vision

CARE Canada

World Food Programme

Humanitarian Coalition



Sincerely,
Randy