Gov't donates more to East Africa

£50,000 provides aid to humanitarian crisis

The Manx government has donated an additional £50,000 to the worsening humanitarian crisis in East Africa.

Around 16 million people have been left without food, water and medicine in the region, following a spell of intense climatic changes.

Funds have been pledged from Treasury's Emergency Aid budget, and are being distributed among 13 charities through the Disasters Emergency Committee.

It brings the total Manx contribution to £100,000 - an amount Chief Minister Howard Quayle says 'reflects the severity of the ongoing crisis'.

Two months ago, government pledged a similar grant to combat famine in war-torn Yemen.