EU humanitarian aid to West Africa

The European Commission has adopted a global plan worth €5.1 million for victims of the continuing humanitarian crisis in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. While Sierra Leone has been the focal point of civil strife over the last 12 years, the conflict has directly affected the neighboring countries. The situation in Sierra Leone has stabilized recently, with signs of progress towards a sustainable peace, but many people in the region are still displaced from their homes and there is a continuing need for humanitarian assistance. The bulk of the new resources have been earmarked for UNHCR operations. The money will be channeled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson.

Multi-sectoral support will be provided, covering health, water/sanitation, shelter and non-food items, for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in Guinea. This country still hosts an estimated 200,000 refugees from Sierra Leone and there are also up to 30,000 Guinean IDPs who have been uprooted from their communities.

In Sierra Leone, the focus is on covering the basic needs of up to 80,000 former refugees who have returned to their country, but not yet to their home areas. Some of these are going to host communities in safe chiefdoms of Sierra Leone while others are being placed in temporary settlements. In recognition of the fact that such an influx can put pressure on host communities, facilities being made available to the returnees - such as health care, water supplies, sanitation and education - will also be extended to local resident populations.

This latest decision complements the funding already provided this year to Sierra Leone (€11 million) and Guinea (€4.5 million) for a wide range of humanitarian actions targeting refugees, displaced people and other vulnerable groups.

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