Brussels, 26/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - Ahead of the Western Balkans summit that will take place in Vienna, the European Commission decided on Wednesday 26 August to grant €1.5 million in additional emergency aid to help the refugees and migrants flooding into Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
The funding, taken from the European Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection department (ECHO), will provide a response to urgent needs - drinking water, hygiene, health care, shelter and protection for the people. The funding will also enable an improvement in the conditions in reception centres for migrants and refugees, as well as coordination and reports on migration issues in the region.
In both countries, the aid will be channelled through the national Red Cross Societies, ECHO's partners on the ground.
“The Western Balkans are dealing with an unprecedented number of transiting refugees and migrants (…) This is European solidarity at its core”, said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides, commenting on the increase in the EU's emergency humanitarian aid.
This new funding brings to €1.74 million the aid mobilised by the European Commission for these particularly vulnerable people. In response to this refugee and migrant crisis in the region, the Commission had previously mobilised around €90,000 for FYROM on 31 July, and €150,000 for Serbia on 20 August. (Aminata Niang)