Brussels, 13/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission recently endorsed the granting of humanitarian aid worth a total of EUR 4.7 million from ECHO's budget (the Community's humanitarian aid office) to four countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Mexico and Yemen, allocated as follows:
Congo. EUR 1.1 million for around 60,000 Angolan refugees living in the DRC to support a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) protection, care and maintenance programme for refugees, particularly in the southern provinces (Bas Congo and Bandundu). The programme covers primary health care and the provision of clean water, sanitation and food distribution until the refugees are repatriated, scheduled for mid-2003.
Sudan. EUR 1 million to help people in the Kassala region, recently displaced elsewhere in the country (provision of plastic sheeting, blankets, water storage equipment and health structures); resettlement kits and shelter items for areas newly accessible following the ceasefire of October 2002; a mass vaccination campaign against measles and other health actions are also being supported.
Mexico. EUR 1 million of humanitarian aid and emergency health care to approximately 30,000 people in Chiapas who have returned home after being displaced. The funding will be used to provide food rations, medical and community services and training in sustainable farming methods.
Yemen. EUR 1.59 million to improve primary health care facilities and provide medicines to the benefit of around 110,000 people and to improve access to clean water for around 24,500 people in he most isolate regions of a country suffering poor economic and social conditions after the civil war that ended in 1994.