Sumario: 27 July 2007, Brussels - The European Commission is providing humanitarian aid worth €10 million to meet the needs of vulnerable people affected by the crisis in Somalia. The focus of its humanitarian "global plan" for Somalia will mainly be on supporting basic sectors such as health, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation. Assistance will be particularly targeted at central and southern areas of the country that have been badly affected by civil strife and extreme natural hazards. An estimated 1.5 million Somalis will benefit including inhabitants of the most vulnerable communities and people who have recently been displaced from their homes. 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: "For the past 16 years, instability and conflict in Somalia have generated overwhelming humanitarian needs. The suffering has been exacerbated by worsening weather patterns - cyclical droughts interspersed with serious flooding - and a series of epidemics. The latest funding decision is a further illustration of the EU's solidarity with the Somali people who have shown extraordinary resilience in the face of adversity but are now exhausted by years of
hardship. Our aid will address the needs of the most vulnerable people in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality and non-discrimination".
A significant proportion of the funds will be for new interventions, in particular to help people displaced by fighting in Mogadishu and southern Somalia. Ongoing humanitarian programmes will also receive further support.
This humanitarian support is in addition to the €4 million announced in an emergency decision taken in June 2007 (see IP/07/779) following fierce fighting in Mogadishu and serious disease outbreaks. A further €4 million is planned for food aid operations.
Since 2005, the Commission has provided humanitarian aid to Somalia worth more than €33 million, including today's allocation. All projects are implemented by non-governmental relief organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Crescent movement.
For further information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
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