EU adopts four new humanitarian aid decisions

The European Commission has adopted a series of humanitarian aid decisions worth a total of €13 million for current crises in Africa. Assistance is being provided for victims of conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo (€5 million), Liberia (€4 million), eastern Chad (€2 million), and Sudan (€2 million). The escalation of the conflict in the Greater Dafur region of Sudan has prompted ECHO to prepare two emergency decisions under a fast-track procedure to meet new and urgent needs - one for Sudanese refugees in Chad and a second for internally displaced people in Sudan. The aid is being directed through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) under the supervision of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

Democratic Republic of Congo - €5 million

The European Commission has approved €5 million in continued humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations of the Ituri District affected by the Dujgu War. ECHO funding will be used to alleviate the immediate suffering of vulnerable populations and to provide a stimulus for the resumption of economic and social life. The entire 3 million population of Ituri will benefit directly or indirectly from this decision.

An estimated one million people have been displaced, or otherwise directly affected, by the conflict within the Ituri District and its periphery. Following the successful completion of the EU-led Operation Artemis force, humanitarian organisations are gradually regaining access to areas that have been cut off from outside assistance for over a year. Today the population of Ituri remains in need of protection, and relies on significant external support for survival.

Complementing ongoing ECHO activities in the DRC, the latest funding decision will focus on providing targeted assistance to displaced and returning populations. ECHO funds will provide emergency relief items and life-sustaining assistance to the displaced population in Ituri. In addition, ECHO will support rehabilitation and resettlement activities such as restoring road access, reopening schools and health centres, and income generating projects to assist returning populations and pave the way for sustainable recovery.

Over the past six years ECHO has allocated more than €150 million to DRC, making it the country's largest donor of humanitarian aid. ECHO is currently managing a €39 million humanitarian aid package in DRC.

Liberia - €4 million

The European Commission has decided to increase the amount of its most recent Humanitarian aid decision for populations affected by the conflict in Liberia from €4 million to €8 million (see IP/03/1251 for initial €4 million). The funds will be used to provide basic relief services and commodities to vulnerable populations. More than 2 million people, or 70% of the population of Liberia are expected to benefit from this decision.

The armed conflict in Liberia led to the total collapse of government support structures and services, and left thousands of people in a situation of immense humanitarian need. However, following the signature of the official peace agreement between the Government of Liberia, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (Model), on August 18 2003, the overall security situation in Liberia has improved. The European Commission has contributed €8 million to supporting peace keeping efforts in Liberia led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - see IP/03/1251. As a result, ECHO's operating partners have greater access to vulnerable populations and more humanitarian needs can now be addressed.

ECHO has allocated more than €14 million to Liberia since 1999. ECHO's main focus in Liberia was on helping refugees from the conflict in Sierra Leone who had fled across the border, as well as host communities.

Chad €2 million

The European Commission will provide €2 million in humanitarian aid to assist Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad. Funds will provide integrated emergency assistance to the refugee population and will focus on providing primary health care services, water and sanitation facilities, essential non-food items and improving the living conditions and safety of refugees.

According to figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 65,000 people, fleeing the conflict between the Government of Sudan and the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and violent ethnic/tribal clashes, have sought refuge in eastern Chad. All these refugees are expected to benefit from this decision. Stranded in an isolated desert region near the Sudanese border, the refugees are living in extremely precarious conditions. Furthermore, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), more than 75 percent of the refugees are believed to be women and young children under five. The current humanitarian needs of the refugee population are substantial.

Sudan €2 millionThe European Commission has decided to provide € 2 million in emergency assistance to the population of the Greater Darfur Region in Sudan. The funds will be used to provide immediate emergency relief to vulnerable population affected by the armed conflict in the region.

The Greater Durfur Region, representing one fifth of the country's surface area, is one of the poorest in Sudan and since the mid-1980s it has been affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. According to recent sources provided by the United Nations the conflict between the Government of Sudan and Sudan Liberation Army (SLM/A) has caused the displacement and the disruption of livelihoods of approximately 600,000 people - this decision will target their needs.

It is hoped that the recent cease-fire agreement signed between the government and the SLM/A will allow humanitarian agencies to gain more access to Internally Displaced People whose conditions are precarious and may deteriorate rapidly with the upcoming winter.

This latest decision for Sudan comes in addition to the €20 million humanitarian aid plan adopted by the European Commission in January 2003 (IP/03/128) and complements the Emergency Decision providing the assistance to Sudanese refugees in Chad (see above). It will focus on basic needs such as shelter, non-food items, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, and will fund measures to protect displaced people from security threats.

ECHO has a longstanding commitment to humanitarian needs in Sudan - in less than 10 years, since 1994, it has allocated close to €200 million in assistance to both North (Government-controlled areas) and South Sudan (opposition-controlled areas).

All programmes financed by these four decisions will be implemented by humanitarian organisations operating in the target regions.



For more information, see:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/liberia/index_en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/sudan/index_en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/drc/index_en.htm

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