EU humanitarian aid to Belize, Mongolia, Afghanistan and DRC

Summary: January 29, 2001: Commission approves humanitarian aid worth €5.5 million (Brussels)

At the end of 2000, the European Commission took a number of decisions totaling almost €5.5 million to fund humanitarian aid in Belize, Mongolia, Afghanistan and the Republic of Congo. The assistance is channeled through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

Belize Hurricane Keith

€850,000 has been allocated in emergency aid to help victims of Hurricane Keith in Belize. The storm, which struck at the end of September 2000, caused severe flooding and widespread damage. Some 44,000 people have been affected. ECHO's assistance, directed through two of its partners, covers food and drinking water supplies, and medical services aimed in particular at preventing epidemics. Funding is also being provided to repair the country's central medical laboratory and to enhance the blood transfusion service.

Food aid for Mongolia

The livestock sector in Mongolia, which provides a livelihood for 30% of the country's population, has been seriously hit by last summer's drought. A number of areas are facing food shortages with the onset of winter. The Commission has therefore decided to extend an existing food distribution project in Uvs, which is one of the worst affected regions, at a cost of €575,000. The project, which is being implemented by a Danish NGO partner, targets some 38,000 vulnerable people.

Support for displaced people in Afghanistan

€3 million has been allocated for a series of activities run by 10 ECHO partners in various parts of Afghanistan. The country continues to face major humanitarian challenges after 21 years of civil war with recent fighting in the northeast resulting in further population displacements.

The objectives of the new funding are to:

continue supplying aid (including nutritional and medical support and food in exchange for infrastructure work) to vulnerable people in Kabul and other urban centers;
continue to provide food and primary health care in frontline areas;
supply emergency aid, such as cooking kits, shelters and fuel, to people who have been displaced as a result of the fighting and the drought, which is affecting the country.

DRC refugees in the Republic of Congo

€1 million has been allocated by ECHO, through the UNHCR, to assist refugees recently arrived in the Republic of Congo from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There has been a steady flow of people fleeing the fighting in the DRC over the last year and the new arrivals require assistance to meet their basic needs. The funds are being used to supply families with blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen utensils and water containers.

Ref: EC01-008EN
EU source: European Commission
UN forum:
Date: 29/1/2001

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