Humanitarian preparedness and response
Humanitarian support for crises in Africa
23 July 2019
Numerous countries in Africa are facing conflict, drought, food shortages and widespread displacement. The UN reports that 237 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from chronic undernutrition and this threatens to derail gains made in the past (February 2019).
In 2018-19, Australia provided $24 million to support international relief efforts in southern Africa, Somalia and South Sudan.
- $10.5 million to provide emergency food, health services and protecting the human rights and safety of affected communities in South Sudan.
- $10.5 million to provide food, health services, water sanitation and hygiene and livelihoods support to communities in Somalia
- $2.5 million in support to countries impacted by Cyclone Idai
- $0.5m to support the World Health Organisation's Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In addition:
- $21 million of Australia's core funding to the World Food Programme for 2018-19 was allocated to 13 countries in Africa.
Video: WFP's activities in Somalia
In 2017-18 Australia provided $36.45 million to support international relief efforts in South Sudan and Somalia:
- $20 million to provide emergency food, health services and protecting the human rights and safety of affected communities particularly women and girls in South Sudan.
- $16.45 million to provide food, health services, water sanitation and hygiene and livelihoods support to communities in Somalia
In addition:
- Almost $25 million of Australia's core funding to the World Food Programme for 2017-18 was allocated to countries in Africa.
- $5 million of Australia's core funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for 2017-18 was allocated to the South Sudan Regional Refugee Response.


Core funding
Australia also provides annual core funding to trusted international humanitarian partners. This funding allows our partners to prioritise the most urgent humanitarian needs globally. For example, $21 million of Australia's 2018-19 core funding to the World Food Programme was allocated to 13 countries in Africa.
Australia's partners include:
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Somalia Resilience Program
- World Vision and Oxfam
More information
- DFAT webpage: Somalia
- DFAT webpage: South Sudan

