Brussels, 10/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved the granting of aid of EUR 1 million to Mongolia. These funds from the Echo budget (European Office for Humanitarian Aid from the Community) are aimed at helping people suffering from severe weather conditions. Funding will go to providing food aid, winter clothes, seeds and gardening tools for horticulture programmes for unemployed shepherds living in urban areas. The aid programmes will be set up by Echo partners, the international humanitarian agencies working in the field.
A fourth harsh winter following the drought in this country is threatening the existence of around 133,000 shepherd families and has so far killed 2-2.5 million animals.