EU has announced over €191 million humanitarian aid package for Africa’s Sahel countries to overcome worst food and nutrition crisis and to avoid facing acute hunger. EU funding will also support disaster risk reduction initiatives that can help populations better prepare for natural hazards.
According to Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, “There is no time to waste with many affected by a worsening food security crisis in the Sahel. Our EU aid will throw a lifeline to the most vulnerable. Our new support aims to reach more than 1.1 million people in need of emergency food assistance while supporting treatment to over 650,000 severely malnourished children
The assistance announced will go to eight countries in the region: Burkina Faso (€11.1 million), Chad (€40.2 million), Cameroon (€13.9 million), Mali (€35.3 million), Mauritania (€11.4 million), Niger (€32.2 million), Nigeria (€35.3 million), and Senegal (€1 million). In addition, regional funds amounting to €10.8 million will also be allocated.
The European Union is one of the largest contributors of humanitarian aid to the Sahel. In 2017, the EU allocated €240.8 million in humanitarian assistance to the people living in the region, covering essential food assistance to vulnerable households, treatment for severely malnourished children, as well as health assistance, water and sanitation, shelter and protection.
