Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Following the humanitarian needs of countries of Africa’s Sahel, the European Union (EU) said it has mobilised over €191 million to aid the countries.
The amount, according to the EU, is meant for food security and the vulnerable in the Sahel.
The EU disclosed the mobilisation of the funds in a statement issued in Brussels and made available to Daily Sun in Abuja by Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka, Politics, Press and Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
Recall that in 2017, the EU allocated €240.8 million in humanitarian assistance to the people living in the Sahel region, covering essential food assistance to vulnerable households, treatment for severely malnourished children, as well as health assistance, water and sanitation, shelter and protection.
The EU added that in mobilising the funds, it aims at reaching 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 by the EU would go to eight countries in the Sahel region namely: 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), including regional funds amounting to €10.8 million which will also be allocated.
The EU said, “As the Sahel region experiences its worst food and nutrition crisis in five years and continued insecurity, the Commission has announced a humanitarian aid package worth €191.3 million.”
“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,” EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.
The EU further said its funding would also support disaster risk reduction initiatives that can help populations better prepare for natural hazards.