EU gives EUR 50 milion to Horn of Africa drought victims
(BRUSSELS) - The EU Commission on Thursday announced 50 million euros (72 million dollars) of humanitarian aid to help four Horn of Africa nations tackle drought induced by global warming.
"We face a disastrous situation in the Horn of Africa that demonstrates the terrible potential of climate change," warned EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Karel De Gucht.
"This crisis, which is happening now, underlines why it is so important to reach agreement in Copenhagen," where UN climate change talks are ongoing, he added, announcing the funding to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.
"Large parts of the Horn have had less than 75 percent of normal rainfall this year, having already endured a series of severe droughts," said De Gucht,
Half of the pledged aid will go to Ethiopia, where consecutive crop failures have hit nutritional levels and the situation "is expected to worsen further," according to the commission.
The new funds will cover food assistance and health aid as well as improvements to water supply, sanitation and hygiene practices.
Kenya, where an estimated 3.8 million people rely on humanitarian aid, will receive 13 million euros of the new EU money.
A further seven million euros will go to help Somalia which has been plagued by fighting, massive human displacement and political and ethnic tensions besides what climate change has brought.
"The combined effect has been a serious erosion in livelihoods, aggravating poverty and increasing food insecurity and vulnerability," according to the commission.
Finally Uganda will receive five million euros to deliver basic services to the 2.2 million people in the Acholi and Karamoja regions of northern Uganda who face food and water shortages.
The Horn of Africa population "can no longer cope with such extreme and protracted hardship which often comes on top of conflict situations. As a result, more than 16 million people desperately need help," said De Gucht.
The European Union as the biggest aid donor to the Horn region. The latest decision brings the total amount of humanitarian aid provided for the four countries this year to almost 150 million euros.
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