Brussels, 05/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 4 March, the European Commission decided to allocate additional food aid of €160 million for regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa. This funding decision, the largest ever announced by the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department, aims to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people facing food shortages due to natural catastrophes, economic and political crises, and armed conflicts. It is the first food aid decision for 2008. More funds will be allocated later in the year.
The Commission delivers food aid in relation to needs. Following a detailed assessment of levels of food insecurity, a list of 17 priority locations has been established: Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, the Sahel countries, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombia and the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and the Gaza Strip). It is estimated that around 18.7 million people will benefit directly from this new Commission decision. These include refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in areas affected by population displacement. Priority will be given to children and young mothers.
Support will be provided for: - distribution of food aid to distressed populations in the aftermath of natural disasters, epidemics, or armed conflicts; - assistance for nutritional recovery of vulnerable groups in both sudden and protracted crises; - “food-for-work” activities, aimed at re-establishing rural community assets. This type of action will include income-generation projects; - restoring the basic livelihood of vulnerable people returning home or resettling after a crisis. Planned activities include short-term support for family food production (e.g. through distribution of seeds, tools and fertilisers) and diversification of the supply of food sources (e.g. fishing as food production and domestic husbandry). Most projects funded under this decision will be implemented by the UN World Food Programme. Nutrition and short-term food security activities will be channelled through other operational partners of the Commission including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (IRC). (O.L.)