Zimbabwe: EU Commission allocates €8m in humanitarian aid to vulnerable groups

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The European Commission has adopted an €8 million global humanitarian aid plan for Zimbabwe for 2007. The aim is to mitigate the impact of an enduring crisis on the most vulnerable population groups. This includes people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and other vulnerable children, elderly, widow- and children-headed households and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The relief funds are channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

Zimbabwe's profound crisis has many faces: poor governance, a crumpling economy with the highest inflation rate in the world, an HIV/AIDS pandemic, food insecurity and erratic weather conditions are parts of it. Currently, one out of six people is in need of food assistance (1.9 million people out of 11.8 million), many of them AIDS orphans. The Commission deems it therefore essential to continue providing humanitarian aid for vulnerable Zimbabweans.

Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "The humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe continues to be of major concern. The European Commission will continue to support relief operations in order to mitigate the impact of the enduring crisis on the most vulnerable people, in particular women and children".

A total of €18 million has been earmarked for relief assistance in Zimbabwe during 2007: the €8 million global plan and €10 million in food aid.

Background

Since 2002, the Commission has adopted seven humanitarian aid decisions concerning Zimbabwe for a total of €95.3 million, including this year's €18 million.

The Commission-funded projects are implemented by non-governmental relief organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. ECHO has a support office in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. It closely follows developments in the humanitarian situation and plays an active role in the local coordination of relief efforts. It also monitors the use of the Commission's relief funds.

For further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/information/decisions/2007_en.htm

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• EU Council Conclusions on Zimbabwe (23/4/2007)
• Food aid: EU Commission allocates €135m to alleviate world hunger (26/2/2007)
• Zimbabwe: EU Presidency Declaration on suppression of demonstrations (22/9/2006)