Brussels, 08/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has granted €3 million of humanitarian aid for victims of the conflict in Chechnya. The money will be allocated via the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO and will provide food for a total of 253 000 people during the winter. This aid will enable the World Food Programme (WFP) to continue distribution of basic rations of flour, sugar, oil and salt to internally displaced persons (143 000) and the most vulnerable resident population in Chechnya, as well as to the displaced Chechen population in Ingushetia (110 000 Chechens, almost a third of the local population).
This operation brings to €28 million funds channelled via ECHO in 2002 to victims of the conflict in Chechnya. Since the beginning of the current hostilities, in autumn 1999, ECHO has allocated over €90 million to the victims, making the EU the largest donor in the region.