European Commission contributes €14 million to WFP Tsunami appeal

FR - DE

Following the destructive tidal wave on Asian coasts at the end of December, the World Food Programme has issued an emergency appeal to help the victims of this disaster to recover and reconstruct their lives. The European Commission has released €14 million in response to this appeal, as an immediate reaction to the most pressing food needs. It is estimated that with local and regional procurement the contribution of the Commission could allow the provision of 30.000 tonnes of cereals to the victims of the tsunami. The €14 million is part of a proposed package of up to €450 from the EU community budget to respond to the catastrophe. Taken with pledges from EU member states, Europe's contribution as a whole is expected to amount to €1.5 billion, making Europe the biggest donor.

In line with EU Food-Aid and Food Security policy, the support of the European Commission will consist exclusively of food purchased locally or regionally, in order to protect, or stimulate local markets. This also helps respect the food habits of the beneficiaries, reduces costs and, more importantly in this case, reduces the time necessary to deliver the goods.

According to WFP a total of 169.315 tonnes of food will be needed to cover food needs from January to June 2005, the period to which the appeal applies. Food Aid is required in different forms: basic staple food like rice and pulses, sources of proteins and fat (canned fish and vegetable oil), but also fortified biscuits to be distributed when access is more difficult, or cooking facilities are not available.

WFP identifies 2 million beneficiaries, 1 million in Indonesia, 750.000 in Sri Lanka, 50.000 in the Maldives, and 200.000 in other countries. The food assistance channelled through WFP will be focused on people whose access to food has been cut off or is at serious risk: displaced persons in evacuation centres and shelters, people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed and children who lost their parents and families in the disaster. As displaced people return to the places of their former homes, and fishermen, farmers and other poor families start re-establishing their livelihoods, the operation will shift to support rehabilitation of farmlands, irrigation channels, community infrastructure and housing. The objective of the assistance is both to save lives by protecting the nutritional status of vulnerable groups, and to promote the rehabilitation of housing, community infrastructure and livelihoods.

For more information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/world/tsunami/index.htm

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

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• EU Parliament - Aid for Tsunami-hit areas and Slovakia on the way  (14/7/2005)
• President Barroso's Speech at EP on aftermath of earthquake and Tsunami (12/1/2005)
• Commissaire Louis Michel - Réponse de la Commission au Flash Appeal des Nations-Unies - Tsunami (11/1/2005)
• EU Trade Commissioner seeks trade measures to relieve tsunami victims (11/1/2005)
• EU Commission President pledges swift delivery of EU Tsunami aid (11/1/2005)
• EU Civil Protection Assistance in South East Asia (11/1/2005)
• EC's satellite analysis supporting international Tsunami information gathering efforts (11/1/2005)
• Session extraordinaire du Conseil de l'Union européenne sur le séisme et tsunamis dans l'Océan indien (7/1/2005)
• Speech by Commissioner Dimas 'The Civil Protection Intervention in South Asia' (7/1/2005)
• President Barroso's Speech at special Asian Leaders' Meeting in Jakarta (6/1/2005)
• EU Commission President Barroso on Tsunami disaster (6/1/2005)
• Commission's Civil Protection Mechanism to co-ordinate technical assistance in South Asia (5/1/2005)
• EP - Tsunami - MEPs think ahead to need for reconstruction (5/1/2005)
• EP - Tsunami - EU aid to the victims of the catastrophe (5/1/2005)
• Tidal waves in Asia - ECHO's response (4/1/2005)
• EC calls for sustained effort to help people affected by the tidal waves in Asia (3/1/2005)