The Federal Government announced on May 29, 2017 that it will match donations by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities that are responding to the famine crisis in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen and the surrounding region. More than 20 million people in these areas are facing an increased risk of starvation resulting from extreme drought conditions and intensifying conflict and some 1.4 million children are now at risk of death from severe acute malnutrition.

In order for a donation to be considered for the matching program, the donation must be:

  • monetary in nature;
  • made by an individual;
  • not exceed $100,000 per individual;
  • made to a registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations in response to the famine crisis;
  • specifically earmarked in response to the famine crisis;
  • made between March 17 and June 30, 2017; and
  • declared by the registered charity receiving the donation to Global Affairs Canada by July 7, 2017.

Since these humanitarian situations have regional implications, the Federal Government will also be matching eligible donations that are made in:

  • Cameroon
  • Chad
  • Niger
  • Ethiopia
  • Kenya
  • Uganda

Charities receiving the funds must declare the amount of eligible donations to Global Affairs Canada by July 7, 2017.   For every eligible dollar reported, the Government of Canada will set aside one dollar in a Famine Relief Fund.   These funds are not sent to the charities that declare the eligible donations.   Instead the Famine Relief is dispersed to "experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations using established Global Affairs Canada channels and procedures."

For a full text of the Federal Government announcement click here.

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