Brussels, 18/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to make another €40 million available for humanitarian aid in the Sahel. The amount of the European package for Sahel thus totals €337m. The ONG Oxfam has welcomed the commitment of the European Union but nonetheless believes that the sum will not be enough to respond to the threat weighing on the 18 million or so people of the Sahel who are affected by the famine.
This decision to release the extra funds comes while a high level meeting, organised by the Commission, is being held on the subject of the food crisis in the Sahel: The gathering, which brings together international donors, country representatives and local and international organisations, aims to launch a new partnership to strengthen Sahel's resilience in the face of future crises.
The sum released by the EU will be made available for general food programmes targeting children but also for food distribution to the poorest households. It will be “the last chance to get to people when the crisis peaks”, according to Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. (EL/transl.fl)