EU humanitarian aid to DRC, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea

The European Commission has adopted three humanitarian aid packages totalling € 78 million to meet the needs of victims of conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (€40 million), Sudan (€20 million), and the Coastal West Africa region (€18 million). Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid Mr. Poul Nielson said: "The adoption of these plans is an affirmation of our commitment to engage and remain engaged in some of the largest and most consuming humanitarian crises to the benefit of the people in need. We will continue to focus our efforts on front-line humanitarian priorities such as health and food. 2003 has been a year of encouragement. Political results have been achieved that spark promises about a permanent end to conflicts in these three regions. We will continue our humanitarian effort in these delicate transitions to lasting peace. At the same time, we will encourage longer term donors to get engaged and take over substantial health, food security and rehabilitation programmes".

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - €40 million

The inauguration of a national transition government in July 2003 officially ended seven years of civil war in DRC. This recent progress on the political and military front presents a unique window of opportunity for the pacification of the Great Lakes Region. ECHO's adoption of this €40 million plan for 2004 demonstrates the Commission's sustained commitment to the vulnerable people of DRC during this delicate transition process.

An estimated four million people have been displaced as a result of the long conflict. The deterioration of social (particularly health) services has led to the re-emergence of endemic/epidemic diseases and unprecedented mortality rates. DRC has among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Africa (1,289 per 100,000 live births and 126 per 1,000 respectively), while one child in five fails to reach the age of 5. HIV/AIDS is a rapidly growing problem. Reduced access to food has led to widespread food insecurity and pockets of acute malnutrition. Approximately 16% (about two million) of children suffer from some form of acute malnutrition. In spite of recent political progress in the country there remains a very strong need for protection and sustained assistance to the Congolese population.

The Congo aid plan has been increased by €5 million compared to 2003 as recent improvements in the security situation allow aid agencies to gain access to more people in need.

A constructive approach to linking relief rehabilitation and development (LRRD) is of utmost importance. Funds will be used to alleviate the immediate suffering of vulnerable populations and to provide stimulus for a resumption of economic and social life. In this context, ECHO will continue to support the Congolese public health system and the fledgling national policy on drug procurement and distribution. An estimated 4.7 million people are expected to directly benefit from activities in support of the health sector. Other key activities will include food aid, nutrition and support to rehabilitation and resettlement activities to assist returning populations and pave the way for sustainable recovery.

The DRC crisis has been ECHO's largest programme in Africa for the last four years. Over the past five years ECHO has allocated over €150 million to DRC, making it the country's largest donor of humanitarian aid. It is estimated that ECHO's 2004 plan for DRC will directly assist over 5 million vulnerable people.

Sudan - €20 million

Sudan has been torn apart by civil war since 1983. The armed conflict has caused over 2 million deaths, resulted in the internal displacement of 4 million people, and created a substantial number of refugees. Furthermore, Sudan hosts 91,000 Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees. Lately the conflict in Darfur state has developed into a fully fledged complex emergency directly affecting the lives of approximately 600,000 people.

The Sudanese population lacks basic services and their situation is made worse by insecurity and frequent natural disasters. Humanitarian indicators are alarming in many areas of Sudan. Mortality rates for children under five are sometimes as high as 199/1000, and overall chronic malnutrition has risen over the past decade from 33% to 39% in rural areas. In some areas, people have no access to safe drinking water at all. This 2004 plan will focus on meeting the food, shelter, health care and water and sanitation requirements of the most vulnerable people. ECHO's humanitarian aid will target the 4 million people who have been displaced by the conflict as well as vulnerable local communities

ECHO has a longstanding commitment to humanitarian needs in Sudan. In less than 10 years, the Humanitarian Aid Office has allocated almost €220 million in assistance to both North (Government-controlled areas) and South Sudan (opposition-controlled areas).

Coastal West Africa Region - €18 million

This €18 million humanitarian plan will help meet the needs of vulnerable populations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire in 2004. While improvements in certain countries such as Sierra Leone are enabling the Commission to wind up humanitarian operations and concentrate on long term development, the humanitarian response to the crisis in Liberia will increase in 2004. The four countries covered by this global plan have experienced a succession of wars and civil strife over the last 14 years. During the past two years the centre of the fighting has moved from Sierra Leone to Côte d'Ivoire, and subsequently, to Liberia. ECHO will continue to implement a flexible regional response to these humanitarian crises in 2004. The plan will concentrate on three priorities. The first aims at providing integrated emergency assistance to vulnerable populations, primarily in Liberia and Western Côte d'Ivoire. The second looks at phasing out emergency relief in areas emerging from the conflict, linking it to rehabilitation and resettlement programmes (LRRD).

The third objective is to strengthen regional programme support, mainly in the areas of protection, co-ordination and air transport capacity. Between 1998 and 2002, ECHO provided humanitarian aid worth almost €68 million to Coastal West Africa making it one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance in the region.

Recently Liberia has been at the centre of this regional crisis. During the past fourteen years of civil war, Liberians have suffered constant displacement, harassment and violation of their basic human rights. According to UN estimates about 500,000 people have been internally displaced. In addition, approximately 98,000 refugees (according to UNHCR) settled in Liberia are also victims of the current humanitarian crisis. The peace agreement signed in Accra on 20 August 2003 has enabled humanitarian organisations to start delivering assistance outside Monrovia. ECHO funds will be used to provide assistance to people affected by the crisis, primarily for health care, water and sanitation, non-food items and protection.

Sierra Leone continues to consolidate its internal security. Over the last two years the country witnessed the return of 228,000 refugees. However, the political situation is very fragile and social development indicators are still amongst the worst in the world (infant and child mortality rates remain very high at 170/1000 and 316/1000 respectively). With the exception of some refugee camps the main needs of the country are more structural than humanitarian. Nevertheless, ECHO will continue to closely monitor the situation in order to be able to respond to unforeseen emergencies.

Guinea has experienced an influx of refugees fleeing conflict in the region, and today the total number of people living in refugee camps is estimated at 90,000. The situation in the country is very fragile with the government unable to provide basic services such as electricity and water. ECHO's aid will target the unmet needs of the refugee population.

In Côte d'Ivoire the humanitarian situation remains very volatile. The country is still divided between government forces and the "new forces" (ex-rebels) and there are no public services in large parts of the country. There are still about 750,000 IDPs and 64,000 Liberian refugees in the country. In 2004, ECHO assistance will concentrate on health, nutrition and protection.

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

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