Summary: 30 July 2007, Brussels - The European Commission has allocated €5 million in humanitarian aid to vulnerable people in Ethiopia affected by conflicts, climatic hazards as well as public health hazards. The climatic hazards concern drought followed by floods - the latter aggravating the vulnerability of the population to water borne diseases like acute watery diarrhoea (cholera). In addition, Ethiopia is the most malaria prone country in Africa and also had to deal with measles and meningitis epidemics in 2006. Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections are the main causes of early death among children. The Commission's aim is to provide humanitarian assistance to around 750,000 vulnerable people - including internally displaced persons - in the sectors of health, water and sanitation and protection. All funds are channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), under the responsibility of the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel.
Commissioner Louis Michel said: "Europe cares. The situation in Ethiopia remains fragile. The European Commission is one of the largest donors in the country and we continue responding to emergency humanitarian needs in areas where the national institutions cannot provide sufficient assistance".
Since 2005, the Commission has provided humanitarian aid to vulnerable people in Ethiopia for €14.5 million, including today's allocation. In addition, €15 million have been allocated for food aid in 2007. Ethiopia is also one of seven countries which benefit from €10 million in humanitarian aid to improve drought preparedness in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia will also benefit from one of the largest contributions in the framework of the 10th European Development Fund.
Commission-funded relief projects are implemented by non-governmental organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. To maximise the impact of the humanitarian aid to the victims, an ECHO support office in Addis Abeba will closely follow developments in the humanitarian situation and will play an active role in the local coordination of relief efforts. It will also monitor the use of the Commission's relief funds from inside the country.
For further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
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