Brussels, 08/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - To ease the major food crisis in the Sahel region, the European Commission, which recently doubled its humanitarian aid to the region (see EUROPE 10534), has decided to increase it still further. It will rise from €95 million to €123.5 million, the Commission announced on Wednesday 8 February.
The decision was made when the major donors for the Sahel (including the EU, the US, Canada and Brazil) met in Brussels to step up their response to a crisis which is threatening 12 million people in the five countries of the region (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad) with famine.
“All the early warning signs are flashing red: malnutrition rates are steadily rising, the price of food is increasing, the displacement of large numbers of people and their livestock has started. The EU has taken immediate action and I urge others to do the same”, said Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.
This latest Commission funding, which comes on top of €150 million in development aid, will bring the aid effort of the Commission for the Sahel in 2012 to €275 million, but according to estimates, €700 million will be needed to cover the populations' needs over the next six months. (AN/transl.fl)