Brussels, 23/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a global humanitarian aid plan for Sudan, with a financial envelope of 17 million euro for 2002.
Funded by Echo (the Community's Humanitarian Office), this plan is intended to help the Sudanese population victim of civil war which, for eighteen years now, has raged between the government and armed factions which control a large part of the south of the country, recurring drought and floods. The aim sought by Echo is to prevent a further deterioration in living conditions of the most vulnerable groups of the population, notably displaced persons the number of which exceeds 4 million (or 13% of the total population). The allocated funds will finance projects in sectors identified as priorities: health, nutrition, provision of water and access to sanitation, food security and preparations for emergency interventions.
In a press release, Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for humanitarian aid, stresses "the duty of Europe to demonstrate solidarity with the Sudanese people whose plight is seldom in the headlines now".