EU humanitarian aid decisions at end of year

The European Commission took the following humanitarian aid decisions at the end of December 2001. The assistance, destined for the Palestinian Territories (€2.5 million), the Andes (€1.8 million), Mexico (€1.8 million), Kenya (€1.5 million), the Philippines (€1.46 million), Armenia (€1 million) and Cambodia (€0.7 million), is channeled through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) which comes under the authority of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

Victims of the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian Territories

€2.5 million for a range of activities implemented by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The projects being funded include infrastructure improvements (paths, drains and roads) in camps and villages most affected by the crisis in the West Bank, and shelter construction in the Gaza Strip where many homes have been destroyed in the fighting. A key objective of the operation is to provide temporary employment opportunities for vulnerable local people, who are being recruited to carry out the work.

Disaster prevention and preparedness in the Andes region (DIPECHO)

€1.8 million for the second Action Plan for the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela). Activities will focus on strengthening local civil defence committees and health centres, building capacity among civil society to deal with emergencies, community awareness-raising and disaster mitigation. The broad aim is to reduce disaster-related risk among vulnerable populations in the countries in question.

Support for displaced people in Mexico

€1.8 million for a range of interventions targeting some 15,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) and returnees in the province of Chiapas. Many people have left their homes due to the internal conflict, resulting in significant humanitarian needs. ECHO, working through Red Cross partners, is providing health assistance, food aid and support for the rehabilitation of homes.

Drought-affected populations in Kenya

€1.5 million for projects in drought-affected areas of Northern and North-Eastern Kenya. The interventions, which focus on the livestock and water sectors, include components for nutrition and health, and for disaster-preparedness through the strengthening of local capacity to cope with future droughts. ECHO's partner for this operation is the Dutch NGO, CORDAID.

People affected by internal conflict and tropical storm in the Philippines

€1.46 million to assist victims of internal conflict in the Mindanao region, and of tropical storm "Lingling" which struck the Visayas islands and northern Mindanao in November. Channelled through a number of NGO partners, the aid for the conflict-affected area includes health interventions and water/sanitation projects for IDPs living in evacuation centres. Basic assistance is also being provided for people returning to their homes. In the region worst-affected by the storm, ECHO is targeting families whose houses were destroyed with food distribution, mobile medical teams and rehabilitation work.

Drought-affected populations in Armenia

€1 million in emergency aid for drought victims in the south of the country. Around 6000 subsistence farming households who are almost wholly dependent on what they grow for their survival - will benefit from this intervention, to be implemented by NGO partners and the World Food Programme (WFP). The beneficiaries will receive agricultural inputs in the form of seeds (potatoes, hay and barley), fertilisers and training.

Flood and drought victims in Cambodia

€0.7 million for vulnerable people in the flood-affected Mekong Basin and the drought-stricken east of the country. The aim is to cover the essential needs of those who have suffered most as a result of these weather events. The funding is being directed through four ECHO partners (UN, Red Cross and NGOs) who are running integrated assistance projects covering food aid, rice seed distribution, renovation of water systems, water purification and shelter rehabilitation.

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