EU humanitarian aid to Southern Africa

Summary: August 28, 2003: Southern Africa: Commission provides a further EUR 25 million in humanitarian aid (Brussels)

The European Commission has approved a €25 million aid package to support victims of the humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa. The funds will help meet the food, water, sanitation and health needs of vulnerable people in nine countries. The aid is channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson. Commenting on the new funding decision, Mr Nielson said: "Millions of people in Southern Africa are facing a desperate situation and the Commission is firmly committed to helping them. The humanitarian aid provided by ECHO goes impartially to those who need it most irrespective of their nationality, ethnic origin, gender or religion."

Southern Africa faces a complex humanitarian crisis that combines drought, economic and agricultural problems, large-scale repatriation of refugees, resettlement of internally displaced people and poverty. The situation is compounded by the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has had a devastating social and economic impact on local communities.

Zimbabwe and Southern Mozambique, in particular, face major food deficits. In Angola, the ending of the ten-year long civil war has revealed enormous post-conflict needs with hundreds of thousands of displaced people waiting to return home.

The latest funding will enable the Commission to help vulnerable populations in Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The following areas are targeted:

Food security: Emergency food aid for vulnerable groups (in particular, malnourished children). Logistical support for food aid operations. Emergency agricultural rehabilitation work;
Water, sanitation and health: A range of urgent interventions in these three sectors, including nutritional surveillance;
Displaced people: Emergency aid for refugees, internally displaced people and returnees with an emphasis on durable solutions including access to health and education, and support for farming activities;
Co-ordination: Concrete support for the co-ordination of the international humanitarian effort.

The programmes will be implemented by ECHO partners working in Southern Africa (UN agencies, members of the Red Cross "family" and non-governmental organisations).

This funding is in addition to the €13 million provided by the Commission in May to assist the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. Since 2001, ECHO has provided more than €86 million in humanitarian aid to Southern Africa.

Ref: EC03-229EN
EU source: European Commission
UN forum:
Date: 28/8/2003

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