EU humanitarian aid for Africa

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The European Commission has adopted a series of humanitarian packages for the victims of protracted crises in Africa. These include Coastal West Africa (€31.3 million), Uganda (€20.62 million), Burundi (€20.99 million), and Tanzania (€13.5 million). Projects will be implemented by humanitarian agencies operating in the target regions. The funds are managed by the European Commission's humanitarian department (ECHO) under the responsibility of Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel.

Commissioner Louis Michel said: "It is essential that public aid for new needs resulting from the Asian Tsunami is not taken from existing crises which have fallen out of the spotlight. The forgotten crises of Africa need our continued support. As these funding decisions testify, the European Commission's humanitarian funding is allocated where needs are greatest."

Coastal West Africa - 3 decisions worth €31,3 million

This package includes a €25 million humanitarian plan for Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire in 2005, a €4.3 million ad hoc decision for Liberia and a €2 million emergency decision for Côte d'Ivoire. The West African countries covered by these funding decisions have suffered conflict and displacement for the past fourteen years. This has resulted in widespread destruction, displacement of populations and a general depletion of basic services. Funds will provide emergency help for conflict victims in Côte d'Ivoire, support for return and resettlement in Liberia, and aid the refugees in Guinea. More than 3 million people are expected to benefit from the operations funded.

Northern Uganda - 2 decisions worth €20.62

These decisions will relieve vulnerable population groups affected by insecurity and climatic hazards in Uganda. The ongoing forgotten conflict in the north of the country, affecting over 1.6 million people, is now causing some of the highest mortality rates ever seen. The European Commission, through the humanitarian aid department ECHO, has therefore decided to increase its funding to the highest level so far: a total of €32,62 million since the beginning of 2004 . This makes the Commission the largest cash donor to the humanitarian crisis in Northern Uganda. ECHO will fund operations that focus on improving health, water availability, food security, essential items such as cooking pots, and protection.

Burundi - 2 decisions worth €20,99

The 2003 ceasefire agreement brought fresh hope for this war-torn country, encouraging many people displaced by the violence to return home. But the humanitarian situation remains highly uncertain and violence in Bujumbura rural is still forcing people to move.

The first decision will provide €3.99 million to help people displaced by the conflict in Burundi. It will help facilitate the return of Burundian refugees living in Tanzania and provide support for Congolese refugees in Burundi. The second decision will provide €17 million for vulnerable populations in 2005. It will target displaced people, refugees and host populations, because they are most at risk from death and disease. Priority sectors include food and nutrition, health, water and sanitation and psychosocial support.

Tanzania - €13.5 humanitarian plan for 2005

Despite peace talks and hopes of return, there are still over 400,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees in North West Tanzania, almost entirely dependent on international aid for survival. These people rely on the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), mandated by the Government of Tanzania to run the camps. ECHO continues to be the key donor to UNHCR in Tanzania, funding approximately half of its budget. ECHO also intends to continue supporting the UNICEF and Red Cross refugee programmes. Activities financed under the current decision will include water, sanitation, health and nutrition, shelter, support for repatriation, logistics, protection and other refugee services. ECHO has supported refugees in Tanzania for over six years, providing €156 million in humanitarian aid between 1998 and 2004.

For more information on ECHO see:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/index_en.htm

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