‘Like many islanders, the commissioners are very mindful that for many Christmas 2018 will not be filled with happy memories because of the impact of natural disasters and humanitarian crisis,’ said a commission spokesman.
‘The commission has therefore agreed to make two awards to provide some assistance to communities in desperate need for food and shelter through no fault of their own.’
It made a donation of £40,000 to Tearfund to support its work in Yemen providing food aid needed because of a three-year-long civil war in the country which has killed nearly 10,000 people and left millions on the brink of starvation.
A ceasefire has been agreed, but estimates suggest that 17.8m. people face food insecurity, a 5% increase since 2017.
In agreeing the award to Tearfund, the commission noted that the charity has raised more than £3m. to provide food for vulnerable households and to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation, as well as health care. The money will ensure that Tearfund’s food aid programme is fully funded until the end of March.
The commission has also agreed to make a further donation of £30,000 to the appeal originally launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee in October following the earthquakes and tsunami in Lombok and Sulawesi, Indonesia.
At least 373 people were killed and many buildings were heavily damaged when the latest tsunami struck, almost without warning, along the rim of the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra islands late on Saturday.
It was triggered by a chunk of the Anak Krakatau volcano slipping into the ocean.
‘The commission’s donation, on behalf of the people of Guernsey, will help support the work of the DEC’s member humanitarian charities and NGOs to extend the Indonesian government-led response in the areas affected by the most recent tsunami in the regions bordering the Sunda Strait,’ said the spokesman.
‘The award from the commission will enable the DEC to support the work of its partner agencies to provide emergency shelter, safe water and sanitation, health care, emergency livelihoods and protection services,’ a spokesman said.
Guernsey donated £75,000 to the DEC appeal in October.
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