Brussels, 01/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has allocated €7.295 million to help Central Asian countries boost their ability to cope with natural disasters so frequent in the region. Funds will be channelled through ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid department, under DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness ECHO).
In a press release published on Monday 1 February, Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, underlines that it is “vital to raise awareness among local populations about changes in their environment and to give them the tools to adapt to climate change”.
Projects implemented by EHCO partner humanitarian organisations (UN agencies and NGOs) will contribute to financing a broad range of tools and activities, such as public awareness-raising, training and education, coordination mechanisms at local, national and regional levels, early warning systems, exchange of know-how, mitigation works and stock building of relief items. (A.N./transl.jl)