Summary: January 24, 2002: European Commission adopts major aid package for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (Brussels)
The European Commission has adopted a new Global Plan for 2002 worth €32 million* in humanitarian assistance for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The new funding, to be managed by the EU's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), was described by EU Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson as "a concrete example of our enduring commitment to the Congolese population."
"The long-running crisis in the DRC has caused suffering on an almost unimaginable scale. This is why the Commission has opted for such a substantial humanitarian aid package. We are determined to make a real difference to people's lives and to ensure that vital relief gets to those who need it most," he said.
The number of displaced people in DRC facing a daily struggle for survival has doubled since 1999, and now stands at more than three million, including some 360,000 refugees from neighboring countries. The outlook for much of the resident population is equally bleak. Many areas have severe food deficits; malnutrition is widespread. And the collapse of health and water delivery systems has resulted in the re-emergence of many diseases.
ECHO's main focus in the Global Plan, as in the previous two years, will be on health and nutrition/food security. It will continue to concentrate on the delivery of relief to the least accessible areas of the country, where there are enormous unmet needs. ECHO is also maintaining its support for the work of specialist international agencies that are involved in providing emergency assistance to conflict victims, supporting refugees and coordinating the efforts of the various humanitarian
actors.
A range of ECHO partners operating in Congo, including NGOs, UN agencies and Red Cross organizations, will implement the projects funded under the Global Plan.
Despite the huge scale of the humanitarian crisis, there are stable areas in Congo where ECHO is looking to hand over established program to other, longer term aid instruments. The Commission is strongly committed to the effective linking of relief, rehabilitation and development assistance in order to maximize the effectiveness of its international aid efforts.
This Global Plan was adopted before the eruption of the Nyriagongo volcano, and is separate from the €5 million emergency aid decision to assist victims of that natural disaster announced on January 20, 2002.
Press Contact: Christopher Matthews (212) 371-3804, ext. 134
*1€=$0.88 (January 24, 2002)
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page