EU humanitarian aid for Eritrea

The European Commission has adopted an €7 million plan for 2001 in favor of Eritrea. The decision will ensure the continuity of humanitarian aid for war and drought victims. The funding, managed by the humanitarian aid office (ECHO), mainly covers areas such as health and the provision of drinking water and shelters.

Although the border conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea is over, the effects are still being felt there. In March ECHO estimated the number of displaced persons to be around 300 000, a vast number of whom are unable to be resettled due to the risks posed by landmines in the area.

Since general food distributions are already being covered, the ECHO aid will be used to support programmes in sectors such as water and products other than food targeted at people in the camps, and assistance to resettle displaced persons (IDPs). It will also finance the demarcation of minefields and awareness-raising among communities of the dangers of mines.

ECHO will also assign funding to monitor the local population affected by the prolonged drought and intends to react rapidly, should the situation deteriorate.

This decision brings ECHO funding to Eritrea to €23.2 million in total since 1998.

| Top |

• EU Presidency Declaration - Ethiopia/Eritrea (Boundary Commission Decision) (15/4/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (6/3/2002)
• EU humanitarian aid to Ethiopia (10/5/2001)
• EU Presidency declaration on Ethiopia and Eritrea (20/4/2001)
• EU humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia (17/4/2001)
• EU Presidency declaration on Ethiopian-Eritrean peace process  (30/3/2001)
• EU humanitarian aid to Ethiopia, Eritrea, North Korea, Sri Lanka, India (16/1/2001)
• EU Presidency declaration on peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea (12/12/2000)