CIDA funds enabled Samaritan's Purse to provide emergency water to drought-stricken Kenyans

Christian relief organization thankful for federal matching funds

CALGARY, Aug. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - A $1.1-million grant from the federal government's Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has helped Samaritan's Purse Canada provide desperately needed emergency water to thousands of children and adults in eastern Kenya during a prolonged drought in the region.

The grant, through CIDA's International Humanitarian Assistance Directorate, was used by Samaritan's Purse between Jan. 15 and July 15, 2012 to address long-term water security and access needs in the Garissa and Tana River counties of eastern Kenya. Samaritan's Purse was able to:

• Regularly deliver emergency water to about 9,300 children and adults in Tana River and Garissa.
• Rehabilitate 15 boreholes or water wells and 10 dug-out water reservoirs in the communities.

The United Nations says more than 13.3 million children and adults in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti are suffering through the region's worst drought in 60 years. They are desperate for water and food.

CIDA created the East Africa Drought Relief Fund, through which the federal government matched every dollar individual Canadians contributed to Canadian registered charities between July 6 and Sept. 16, 2011 in response to the African drought. That response totaled $70.4 million. CIDA disbursed the funds to Samaritan's Purse Canada and 13 other experienced Canadian and international relief and development organizations.

"We wish to formally thank CIDA and the Canadian government for their generous support of the drought relief work in which Samaritan's Purse and other aid organizations are engaged in east Africa, said Fred Weiss, Samaritan's Purse Canada's executive director. "We are grateful for their funding partnership with us."

CIDA has allocated $161.1 million since December 2010 to help east African drought victims.

Donations Needed
Through direct support from individual Canadians, Samaritan's Purse is continuing to provide water and food to thirsty and famished children and families in eastern Kenya. To support Samaritan's Purse's disaster relief efforts, please visit http://www.samaritanspurse.ca (click on "Ways to Give") or call 1-800-663-6500.

About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse Canada is an international Christian relief and development organization working in about 40 countries to help victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The charity also operates the well-known Operation Christmas Child program that sends gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children around the world each year, and raises funds for life-saving BioSand Water Filters in the developing world. Go to http://www.samaritanspurse.ca for more information.

SOURCE: Samaritan's Purse Canada

Media Inquiries
Jeff Adams
Communications Director, Samaritan's Purse Canada
1-800-663-6500 (office)
403-615-8747 (mobile)
[email protected]