Emergency relief for drought victims in Mali and Niger
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     The Government has accepted the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee and approved two grants from the Disaster Relief Fund totalling $6 million to World Vision Hong Kong to undertake relief projects for drought victims in Mali and Niger.

     Announcing the grants today (May 15), a Government spokesman said that the Committee hoped the two grants - each of $3 million - would help provide relief to the drought victims in the two countries.

     "To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the relief agency has been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed," the spokesman said.

     The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Government on policy and practices regarding the disbursement of funding for disaster relief from the Disaster Relief Fund, which was established in December 1993 for emergency disaster relief in places outside Hong Kong, as well as advising on specific amounts to specific recipients, and monitoring the use of grants.

     The committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration. Members include Professor Anthony Cheung, Mr V Nee Yeh, Mrs Sophie Leung, Mr Wong Sing-chi, Mrs Alice Chong, Mr Leo Kung, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare.

Ends/Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:41

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