Brussels, 17/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a new aid package to Angola of €8 million. The peace process that began in April 2002 continues apace and priority will be on the regions that are now accessible again, as well as those in the East of the country which ae expected to become so. Funds will finance pojects in: health (mothers and children, vaccination programme); food (fight against starvatiàns); emergency aid (blankets, kitechen utensils and sheets for shelter); legal proectection of the mostvulnerable people (birth registration, family tracing and reunification), and logistics (air and road transport for food, seeds and tools, non-food items).
Poul Nielson, the European Commissioner explained that, "the peace process in Angola has opened a window of opportunity for reconstruction and reconciliation. Although the fighting has ended, it is clear that the Commission will continue to have a humanitarian role in Angola for some time to come. In 2003, ECHO will focus its efforts on meeting the needs of people in newly accessible areas, and of returning internally displaced populations and refugees".
Since 1993, ECHO has provided more than €143 million in humanitarian aid for victims of the Angolan crisis.