Deputy Minister Fransman to attend the AU Pledging Conference on Somalia

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Marius Fransman, will attend the African Union (AU) pledging conference on the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa, to be held on 25 August 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Deputy Minister Fransman’s participation follows an emergency meeting convened by the AU on 27 July 2011 to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. During the emergency meeting, the AU decided on the Pledging Conference, to be convened on 25 August 2011 in Addis Ababa.

Following the famine outbreak in Somalia, South African citizens have been providing support to the vulnerable communities in Somalia, based on the internationally recognised humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

It is against this background that the South African Government has responded to the humanitarian crisis confronting the Horn of Africa by raising R8 million towards the famine relief programme, of which R4 million was donated to the South African NGO, Gift of the Givers, towards transportation and logistical costs of delivering aid to Somalia.

In line with South Africa's foreign policy objective of consolidating the African Agenda, the Government, led by DIRCO in partnership with Brand South Africa, teamed up with Gift of the Givers and launched the Somalia Relief Campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the dire situation in Somalia and to galvanise South Africans to make donations for relief efforts in that East African country.

The South African Government also provided free transport in the form of a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) C130 Hercules supply plane to the Gift of the Givers to deliver 18 tons of essential food and anti-malaria medication to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on 16 August 2011.

This latest consignment brings to 112 tons the total aid delivered to Somalia by the Gift of the Givers in a two-week period.

Furthermore, the Government also collaborated with other South African-based organizations contributing to relief work for Somalis in Somalia and refugee camps in neighbouring countries. These organisations include Islamic Relief South Africa, Africa Muslim Agency, Netcare South Africa, the Al Imdaad Foundation and the Somali Community Board of South Africa.

For further information please contact Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, on 082 884 5974.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

24 August 2011

www.dirco.gov.za