Minister Fantino to attend conference on Mali

January 28, 2013

Ottawa, Ontario — The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, will attend a high-level international meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 29, 2013, to discuss the conflict in Mali and the financial, logistical and capacity building needs of both the Malian forces and the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).

"Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation in Mali," said Minister Fantino. "We will continue to provide life-saving assistance to those most in need, particularly vulnerable women and children."

Canada has invested significantly to help the most vulnerable Malians in food security, nutrition, immunization, and access to basic health and educational services.

In the last year, Canadian humanitarian assistance has provided:

• food and nutrition assistance to some 1.3 million people in Mali as well as to 142,000 refugees in Niger, Mauritania and Burkina Faso;
• life-saving water and sanitation assistance to more than 49,000 people;
• life-saving activities such as the screening and referral of children suffering from malnutrition, as wel as activities designed to protect livelihoods and enhance resilience, such as the distribution of seeds and tools for 58,000 people;
• cash transfers and cash-for-work programming for 3,000 vulnerable households affected by both the food crisis and conflict in northern Mali.

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For more information, media should contact:

Daniel Bezalel Richardsen
Press Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Email: danielbezalel.richardsen@acdi-cida.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
Email: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
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