Brussels, 18/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Friday, the European Commission announced humanitarian assistance financing decisions that it took end of last year for the Palestinian Territories (2.5 million euro), the Andean region (1.8 million euro), Mexico (1.8 million), Armenia (1 million) and Cambodia (0.7 million). The funds, taken from the Echo budget (the Community's humanitarian office) will contribute to the implementation of projects by Echo partners on the ground. The total amount of the aid comes to 10.76 million euro. Here are the details:
Palestinian Territories: 2.5 million euro for projects implemented by the United Nations' Rescue and Works Office for refugees of Palestine in the Middle East: improvements to infrastructures (sites, evacuation channels and roads) in the villages and camps the most affected by the crisis on the West Bank as well as the construction of shelters in the Gaza Strip. The main aim is to open up prospects for temporary employment to the vulnerable parts of the local population recruited for the work.
Andean region: 1.8 million is being allocated under the second action plan for the Andean community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela) for the prevention of disasters and preparation for natural catastrophes.
Mexico: 1.78 million euro for some 15,000 displaced persons inside their country and repatriated from the province of Chiapas.
Kenya: 1.5 million euro for projects in the North and North east of the country, in the grips of a drought (breeding, food and health, strengthening of local capabilities to remedy droughts to come).
Philippines: 1.46 million for the population victim o the internal conflict and the tropical storm.
Armenia: 1 million euro for the victims of drought in the southern part of the country (support for subsistence farming).
Cambodia: 0.7 million for the vulnerable parts of the population victims of floods and drought.