8 February 2012, Brussels - The European Commission is scaling up its humanitarian assistance to €123.5 million for the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa where 12 million people are at risk of hunger.
Combined with at least €150 million of development assistance, it brings the Commission's funding for the Sahel so far this year to almost €275 million. But it's estimated that €700 million are required to cover the next 6 months.