In response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, the European Commission announced the release of €10 million in humanitarian aid on Monday 17 July, the first day of the EU-CELAC summit in Brussels.
5.2 million people, almost half the Haitian population, are in desperate need of urgent humanitarian assistance due to a combination of hunger, widespread violence, the ongoing economic collapse and a cholera epidemic. The country is experiencing an unprecedented level of food insecurity - the second highest in the world.
The EU aid will enable partner humanitarian organisations on the ground to strengthen their capacity to help vulnerable populations, focusing primarily on food and nutrition.
This financial package will also support healthcare, the provision of cash, personal protection and logistics in both rural and urban areas.
“While celebrating this fruitful partnership between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing relief to people in Haiti remains our utmost concern and priority in the region”, commented European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič.
This urgent aid is in addition to the €43 million released on Friday 14 July for Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen disaster preparedness (see EUROPE 13223/14). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)