EUROPEAN UNION ALLOCATES M300 MILLION IN HUMANITARIAN AID

The European Union(EU) has allocated M300 million in humanitarian aid to help vulnerable populations in Southern Africa affected by food shortages, displacement and conflict. The funds come from the emergency reserve of the European Union budget, following the release of additional resources by the budgetary authority. They will be channeled through the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission.

A press release from the EU headquarters in Brussels said six countries, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been badly affected by the current food crisis. The release further said the population's vulnerability has been exacerbated by several factors including drought, economic failures and the high prevalence of HIV\AIDS. It said in many areas, traditional coping mechanisms have been exhausted and increasing numbers of people are malnourished. According to the release, the latest  assessment show that almost 13 million people in the six countries need food aid.

The release stated that the funds allocated under the new decision, which are in addition to the M190 million already provided this year for humanitarian operations in the region, will be spent on a series of emergency actions that include; food operations targeting vulnerable groups, interventions in the water, sanitation and medical sectors, and agricultural rehabilitation. It said resources are also being provided to support the logistics of food distribution for donor coordination activities and to boost nutritional monitoring and surveillance.

11 October,2002