Trócaire has secured an additional £2 million in funding for this year’s Lenten Appeal through the UK Aid Match initiative, doubling the amount available to the overseas development agency.
People in Northern Ireland donated more than £2 million to the Lenten campaign which focused on the challenges faced by people in Zimbabwe to provide food, water and education for their loved ones due to drought caused by climate change and the effects of Covid-19.
The UK government matched the amount and Siobhan Hanley, Trócaire’s Head of Region in Northern Ireland, said the £4 million would make a huge difference.
“This extra funding will be used to create long term, positive change in the lives of people in Zimbabwe and to enable them to be self-sufficient and not to have to rely on aid. People living in poverty, especially women, in drought-prone southern Zimbabwe have been disproportionately affected by the long-term impacts of Covid-19.
"These matched funds will enable thousands of people within the country, particularly women, to continue feeding their families despite these impacts and through climate shocks and other challenges.”
Ms Hanley thanked the people of Northern Ireland for their generosity.
Meanwhile, Trόcaire has issued a warning about the current food crisis in the Horn and East Africa which has left 22 million people facing starvation.
To donate visit www.trocaire.org
