Brussels, 07/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 7 July, the European Commission announced that a further €2 million in humanitarian aid would be earmarked for people in Georgia affected by the 2008 conflict. The aid, from the Commission's humanitarian aid service, ECHO, is intended for internally displaced persons (IDP), refugees returning to their places of origin, and local populations still dependent upon aid handed out by the government and the international community to cover their essential needs.
Funding will be used for: - food aid to returning IDPs living in new settlements, collective centres and host families, as well as to people living in areas not yet cleared of unexploded ordnance left behind after the fighting; - cash transfers for complementary food to ensure a more balanced diet; - and cash for work activities which will also contribute to repairing or strengthening infrastructure and community assets.
Projects will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), ECHO's partner on the ground. The new funding brings to €12 million the humanitarian aid allocated by the Commission to populations affected by the conflict in Georgia. (A.N./transl.jl)