The European Commission is mobilising €50 million in humanitarian aid from the EU budget for the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. The new funding was announced on Thursday 9 March, on the occasion of the visit of the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, to Madagascar. The country was recently hit by cyclone ‘Cheneso’ in January and the second passage of ‘Freddy’, which killed 8 people, on 7 March.
This humanitarian funding is intended to address food insecurity and malnutrition, improve access to basic services, enhance disaster preparedness and promote education in emergencies throughout the region.
Of the €50 million, €13.3 million is allocated to Madagascar, €25 million to Mozambique, €7.4 million to Zimbabwe and €4.3 million to Lesotho, Malawi and regional projects.
In Madagascar, the Commissioner inaugurated a €1.2 million EU-funded helicopter service operation to reinforce the UN fleet and enable humanitarian actors to reach affected communities.
Lenarčič said that he was able to travel to the devastated areas on 8 March, thanks to a special World Food Programme flight. The Commissioner also held talks with the Malagasy President, Andry Rajoelina, the governors of the Vatovavy and Fitovinany regions and the directors of the National Disaster Management Office. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)