The European Union has decided to increase its humanitarian aid to the Sahel by €152.05 million, the European Commission announced on Tuesday 11 June, the day the institution released the funds. This emergency aid will help vulnerable populations in this poor region of West Africa, affected by armed conflict and a food and nutrition crisis, with climate change as an aggravating factor.
The funding, financed by ECHO's budget (the Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department), will provide food aid, emergency health care, access to safe drinking water and shelter, as well as protection for people and education for children.
The funds will be distributed amongst the following countries: Burkina Faso (€15.7 million), Cameroon (€17.8 million), Chad (€27.2 million), Mali (€23.55 million), Mauritania (€11.15 million), Niger (€23.15 million) and Nigeria (€28 million). An envelope of €5 million has been allocated to a regional project to combat malnutrition in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
“To ensure aid saves lives, it is essential that humanitarian workers have full access to do their job”, said Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, in a statement.
This funding will bring the EU's humanitarian aid to the Sahel in 2018-2019 to over €423 million. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)