Isle of Man Overseas Aid Committee donate £50,000 to Africa appeal

The Isle of Man Government's Overseas Aid Committee has donated £50,000 of emergency funding to Oxfam to help victims of the drought in the Horn of Africa.

The drought currently affecting the east of Africa, including the states of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, is the worst for sixty years, following successive failed rains. More than 10 million people are said to be affected.

The funding will go toward helping out 210,000 of the people worst hit by the natural disaster.

It will be spent on things like improving access to safe and adequate water, implementing public health promotion and running activities that will support the construction of water infrastructure.

Minister Phil Gawne is the Chairman of the Committee, he impressed the severity of the situation and has urged the Manx people to get behind the aid appeal.