Aid agencies £2.2m richer to help poor

Scottish-based aid agencies working in some of the world’s poorest nations will share almost £2.2 million of Scottish Government funding, it was announced today.

Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said almost £700,000 would go to humanitarian relief efforts in drought-stricken East Africa and another £1.5m from the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund would support existing projects in Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and the Darfur region of Sudan.

Ms Hyslop said: “This government is aware of our responsibilities to the wider world and is committed to providing help to the international community in times of crisis.

“This humanitarian aid will go directly to support Scottish organisations working on the ground and will ensure help is given swiftly and directly to those most in need.”