EU gives Mali extra EUR 20 m

(BRUSSELS) - The EU executive Tuesday announced 20 million euros of extra humanitarian aid to help tens of thousands of Malians fleeing fighting in the nation's north and centre, its second such donation in as many months.

"I appeal to other donors to act swiftly as the populations have been weakened by months of hardship," said the EU's crisis response commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who was in Bamako in her second visit since December, when the European Commission too offered 20 million euros in aid.

"Since then the situation has further deteriorated with combats between Islamist forces and the Malian army coming closer to the south, resulting in additional needs," she said. "We have therefore mobilised an additional 20 million euros to meet the increased humanitarian vulnerability".

The new funds will go to help severely malnourished children, assist 100,000 Malians who have fled to neighboring countries, and provide some 150,000 people in Mali with food and basic services.

Last year the EU allocated 73 million euros to Malian victims of the food crisis and political conflict, with EU nations in addition providing 38 million euros, bringing the EU total in 2012 to 111 million euros.

The 27-nation bloc will also contribute 50 million euros to support the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA).

A number of development programmes worth some 250 million euros that were suspended after a coup in March last year may also be resumed soon.