Brussels, 10/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 10 March, the European Commission announced that the European Union has decided to mobilise emergency humanitarian aid for victims of the conflict in Iraq.
This funding will be taken from the ECHO budget (the Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection department) and will enable the basic needs of people in distress to be covered for the next three months. The funding will finance protection measures for the people, access to primary health care, the supply of water and the provision of housing.
European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said he was “deeply concerned by the intense fighting in Iraq, where the death toll and displacement are growing by the day” in a country where 5.3 million people need humanitarian aid.
The aid that the Commission has mobilised is the EU's initial response to the urgent call for funds launched by the UN. More funding will follow in order to address the growing humanitarian needs. (Aminata Niang)