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Press Release
5 June 2008
Alexander announces aid for South African violence victims
Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander has today announced a £500,000 (7.5 million Rand) funding package to provide assistance to migrants in temporary shelters in South Africa affected by the recent violence.
The money will be split between the South Africa based Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in the Western Cape, which will receive £200,000 and Oxfam’s programme in Gauteng which will receive £300,000. Mr Alexander announced the funding package designed to improve provision of humanitarian assistance and ensure that vulnerable migrants have access to essential items.
Douglas Alexander said:
"I join with South Africa's political, faith and civic leadership in utterly condemning the appalling violence that has been occurring in recent weeks in some of the townships in South Africa. The peoples of the UK and South Africa have shared a longstanding commitment to the creation of a prosperous South Africa with equal opportunities for all. Our team in South Africa have been monitoring the situation closely and have been working with local NGOs, providing food and shelter for some of the victims of the violence.
"TAC is an existing partner of DFID's and has a remarkable reach into poor communities, which include many people living with HIV. They have been able to play a very strong role in mobilising immediate assistance during this crisis. I am delighted that they are working closely with Oxfam and we are able to support both organisations to work effectively with provincial authorities.”
An emergency Civil Society Coalition made up of trade unions, faith based organisations and human rights organisations was formed to respond to the recent violence against migrant workers in South Africa. TAC has been at the forefront of this response and have organised a non-stop humanitarian relief effort for individuals and families who have been displaced by xenophobic violence in the greater Cape Town area.
They have dispatched humanitarian assistance in the form of food, blankets and other basic necessities as well as medical and legal services to displaced persons at over 30 locations. Approximately 21,000 people have been displaced across Cape Town by xenophobic violence.
One third of DFID-Southern Africa’s budget is spent on AIDS & Health. The annual budget is £40 million per year for work in South Africa and Southern Africa, in addition to £5 million for Lesotho and £3 million for Angola.
Notes to Editors
Douglas Alexander made the announcement whilst visiting South Africa as part of a discussion on HIV/AIDS and a World Economic Forum in South Africa. A full programme can be obtained form our office.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) was founded on 10 December 1998 in Cape Town, South Africa. Its main objective is to campaign for treatment for people with HIV and to reduce new HIV infections. TAC’s efforts have resulted in many life-saving interventions, including the implementation of country-wide mother-to-child transmission prevention and antiretroviral treatment programmes. They have become one of the most vocal and influential Civil Society Organisations in the country often challenging government policies.
DFID has been supporting TAC for the past two years and will have spent £500,000 by the end of 2008.
TAC has demonstrated that treatment using Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment is possible in a low income country. Over 5000 people are on treatment at three clinics and this figure is expected to rise. Results have been excellent with more than 80% of patients still alive after four years of treatment.
Related Links
Further information on DFID’s HIV/AIDS strategy is available on our website, www.dfid.gov.uk , or contact Sarah Thoms in the Press Office, s-thoms@dfid.gov.uk , call +44 207 023 0849.