KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark, in her role as acting foreign minister, today announced $3.7 million in funding to help people in Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Africa, India and Nepal.
The government's aid agency NZAID would contribute $1 million for the World Food Programme's appeal in the Horn of Africa and $500,000 to the Red Cross and Red Crescent's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund.
Many people in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti are hungry because of a severe drought compounded by high food and fuel prices.
Disaster Relief Emergency funding was going to help people in India and Nepal affected by flooding.
Zimbabwe had a food crisis and New Zealand was giving $1.2 million to the Red Cross.
Miss Clark said the political situation where ruler Robert Mugabe was yet to fulfil power sharing commitments worsened the situation in Zimbabwe.
A further $1m would go to the United Nations World Food Programme to help the hungry in Afghanistan.
- NZPA
