21.5 million euros – Austria increases aid for foreign disasters

This is in line with the desire of NGOs for more predictability, says Schallenberg. And the help happens “where it works best, namely on the spot”. The largest part of the 21.5 million euros will go to five countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Five million of these are reserved for Ethiopia, four for Burkina Faso, three for Mozambique and one million each for South Sudan and Uganda, Schallenberg said. The remaining tranche will go to the Middle East, namely 3.5 million to Jordan, three to Lebanon and one million to Afghanistan. This sends out a “visible signal,” Schallenberg stressed.

“Instrument to help quickly”
Kogler praised the Foreign Disaster Fund as an appropriate tool “to help quickly”. He thanked coalition partner ÖVP for increasing payments fivefold in the past four years. “It makes us proud that we were able to do that.” Kogler also praised the Austrian NGOs for their “reliability and continuity”.

NGOs welcomed the decision
“With this money we support Austrian NGOs in the affected countries and thus make important contributions to alleviating humanitarian disasters,” said Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) according to the broadcast. Aid organizations welcomed the release of the funds. “With a record 339 million people who will depend on humanitarian aid and protection by 2023, this money is urgently needed and an important sign of solidarity. Internationally networked aid organizations such as Caritas can use this money to help quickly and save lives. rescue,” emphasized Caritas president Michael Landau.

“We welcome today’s decision by the Council of Ministers to allocate €21.5 million for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Jordan, Lebanon, Mozambique, South Sudan and Uganda from the Foreign Disaster Fund. The federal government thus enables Austrian aid organizations to maintain and expand their support to people in need in the world’s crisis areas,” said Lukas Wank, general manager of the Global Responsibility Working Group. “People with disabilities should not be excluded from much-needed relief measures,” demanded Julia Moser, director of Light for the World Austria. “We welcome the release of additional funds from the Foreign Disaster Fund,” said Reinhard Heiserer, general director of Jugend Eine Welt, pleased with the decision .

The fund is administered by the State Department
The federal government can use the Foreign Disaster Fund (AKF) to provide funds for humanitarian assistance following humanitarian crises and disasters abroad. In 2023, the fund will receive 77.5 million euros. It is administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Council of Ministers decides on a case-by-case basis on how to spend the funds.

According to FPÖ foreign policy spokesman Axel Kassegger, the aid is “a mockery”: “Especially at a time when more and more people are left in the inflationary trap by the black-green government, such amounts are anything but appropriate. These 21 .5 million euros would be better invested to alleviate the plight of the local population,’ said Kassegger.

The ÖVP spokesperson for international development, Martin Engelberg, rejected the FPÖ MP’s “impossible allegations”. “The foreign disaster fund not only stands for assistance on the ground, but also creates perspectives and prevents migration,” emphasizes Engelberg. Austria plays its role within the global community of states and participates in the international fight against humanitarian emergencies.