Brussels, 18/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 December, the European Commission decided to allocate €50 million in humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable drought-affected people in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Commenting on this decision, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Karel De Gucht of Belgium underlined the fact that the “disastrous situation in the Horn of Africa … underlines why it is so important to reach agreement in Copenhagen”. Out of the €50 million, €25 million will go to Ethiopia, €7 million to Somalia, €13 million to Kenya and €5 million to Uganda. All Commission-funded humanitarian projects are administered through the Commission's humanitarian aid service (ECHO) and implemented by non-governmental organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. Generally speaking, aid will be used to provide food and water and also to improve the situation of healthcare in the region. (O.L./transl.jl)