India: Commission grants EUR 1.95 million in humanitarian aid

The European Commission has approved €1.95 million in continued humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups affected by conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. The emphasis is on providing health care, psychosocial support and education to both internally displaced people (IDPs) and the resident population. The funding is channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson. Programmes will be implemented by humanitarian agencies operating in the region.

Building on previous ECHO-funded programmes in Jammu and Kashmir, the decision continues to address the basic social needs of the most vulnerable groups affected by the conflict. This includes, in particular, women, children and IDPs living in camps.

Funds will provide special support to orphaned children to ensure their continued access to education. Teaching aids, training for teachers and community participation initiatives will be supported and children's groups will be organised.

A mental health programme, initiated by a previous ECHO initiative in 2002, will be continued. This involves rehabilitating a psychiatric hospital and establishing a separate counselling service for people requiring psychosocial support. Medical supplies will be provided following an assessment of material medical needs. There is also provision for the rehabilitation of health centres and for training of psychosocial counsellors.

A further component of the decision is designed to help protect conflict-related detainees and the civilian population.

Finally, improvements will be made to sanitation systems in IDP camps in Jammu.


For the French text please see:

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/913|0|RAPID&lg=FR


For other European Commission actions relating to India, see the following web pages:

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/496|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=
(Humanitarian Aid for IDP in Sri Lanka and Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu)

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/india/intro/index.htm
(Website of the External Relations Directorate-General - the EU's relations with India)

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