EU humanitarian aid for drought-victims in India

The European Commission has adopted a humanitarian aid decision worth €3 million to help victims of the drought that has hit Rahjastan in India. The funds are being channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson. The money will serve to provide drinking water and food for the beneficiaries.

Rahjastan, with 54 million inhabitants, is India's second largest state and also one of the poorest. The economy is mainly agrarian and thus dependent on rain. Since early summer, 80% of the crops sown have perished as a result of the prolonged drought and the result has been a significant reduction in the availability of food. There is also a shortage of drinking water as wells have dried up. For many people, the only water now available is contaminated.

This latest decision involves specific assistance for almost half a million people. Tankers will provide clean water for more than 100,000 beneficiaries while some 350,000 people will receive food supplies and fodder for their animals. In addition, ECHO's implementing partners will run labour-intensive projects to set up water systems. The objective here is to boost the availability of clean water and to mitigate the effects of future droughts. The World Health Organisation is also receiving support for the establishment of a malnutrition monitoring system.

A total of more than seven million people should benefit directly or indirectly from the programmes funded under this decision.

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