Brussels, 19/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided to free EUR 2.585 million from the ECHO budget (Community humanitarian aid office) in view of ensuring the follow-up to humanitarian operations underway in Afghanistan and Pakistan. These fund are targeted at some 500,000 refugees and displaced persons that the drought and fighting have forced to flee (the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan over the last two months has provoked the displacement of peoples towards Pakistan).
In Pakistan, this aid will finance the continuation of assistance operations for refugees, lead by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Rescue Committee and the Danish Refugees Council. The actions, implemented by the humanitarian organisations in two refugee camps, will be centred on hygiene, water and sanitation, for almost 100,000 people.
In Afghanistan (Hazarajat and Heart), the financing will mainly cover the taking on, by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), of transport and logistics, as well as the continuation of assistance to displaced persons and medical care and nutritional services provided by other ECHO partners. The number of beneficiaries is estimated at 330,000 people. This financing increases to EUR 23.350 million the total in humanitarian operations financed by ECHO in the region since 1999.