Brussels, 21/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we mentioned, on 20 March the European Commission adopted an intervention plan, providing for the granting of 8 million euro to the vulnerable people of Cuba, especially the elderly and the disabled who have no family support or resources.
This plan provides, notably, for the provision of food rations, personal and domestic hygiene, housing and clothing, as well as the distribution of essential goods and short-term rehabilitation operations in a number of residential centres. Ten non-governmental organisations partners of ECHO, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office, will be involved in implementing the plan.
The Commission states that ECHO's activities in Cuba are currently being dismantled so as to put an end to its interventions by the end of the year. Other Union instruments and budgetary headings should take over, without necessarily reducing the total amount of aid granted (17 million euro in 2000). This readjustment in policy, which takes place within the framework of the EU Common position on Cuba, reflects changes occurring in the Cuban economy and society.