Brussels, 10/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has decided to allocate 500,000 euro in humanitarian aid for the populations victims of insecurity and drought in Uganda. These funds, taken from the Echo budget (the Community's humanitarian office) will finance the provision of shelters, primary health care, drinking water, adequate sanitation and non-food items. These humanitarian operations, implemented by NGOs partners of Echo on the ground, should benefit 500,000 refugees and displaced persons inside the country, as well as the host populations. The insecurity in northern and eastern districts of Uganda has led to the gathering of thousands of people in compounded areas where basic services are inadequate or not available at all. The recent droughts have worsened this precarious humanitarian situation. Since 2000, Echo has allocated close to 2.5 million euro to the vulnerable populations in Uganda.