EU humanitarian aid for Colombia

The European Commission has approved €1.2 million in aid for victims of the worsening humanitarian crisis and €0.65 million to strengthen civil and political rights in Colombia. The humanitarian aid funds, which are being used to provide food aid for internally displaced people, are being channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). The civil and political rights project will be financed through the Europe-Aid Co-operation office of the Commission.

Humanitarian aid

Following the recent intensification of the armed conflict, almost 100,000 people were newly displaced between January and June, an increase of 81% on the same period in 2001. The lives of those in the conflict zones have been seriously disrupted as armed groups have stepped up military action, issued threats against civilians and established blockades. The initial amount budgeted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which assists many of the displaced people, has been insufficient to deal with this new caseload.

This contribution will enable the ICRC to distribute 140,000 food parcels to around 80,000 people who have recently been displaced.

This additional contribution brings humanitarian aid provided to Colombia through ECHO during 2002 to more than €9 million.

Civil and political rights project

The project is aimed at strengthening social and institutional capacity for promotion, defence, and full attainment of civil rights in Colombia by supporting the national Ombudsman Office (Defensoria del Pueblo) in its task to push for full implementation of human rights legislation. Other areas of activity are training civil society on human rights and promotion of their participation in the regional and national decision-making process.

Background

The armed conflict in Colombia has intensified in recent months following the breakdown in February of peace negotiations between the government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces - People's Army (FARC-EP).


More background on Colombia can be found at the following web site address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/colombia/intro/index.htm

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