IP/00/83
Brussels, 27 January 2000
Humanitarian aid: News in brief
The European Commission has made available funding for humanitarian aid
projects in the following countries: India (Euro 5.2 million), Venezuela (Euro
3.2 million), Indonesia (Euro 3 million), North Korea (Euro 800,000), Russia
(Euro 2 million), Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine (Euro 1.9 million). The aid,
channelled via the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will
enable United Nations organisations, the Red Cross and non-governmental
organisations to carry out projects over the next three to six months.
India (Orissa, Andhra Pradesh) - victims of cyclone: Euro 5.2 million
This funding is dedicated to meeting the ongoing needs of people affected by the
cyclone that devastated eastern India in October. It covers the basics for survival:
food aid, basic healthcare, shelter and water/sanitation. ECHO's partners: the
International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mensen in
Nood/Caritas (Netherlands), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Germany),
Oxfam (UK), HelpAge International (UK), World Vision (UK), Movimiento por la Paz
el Desarme y la Libertad/MPDL (Spain) and the Dutch Relief and Rehabilitiation
Agency. This new funding brings the total earmarked for this disaster to Euro 7.2
million so far.
Venezuela - victims of flooding: Euro 3.2 million
Torrential rains hit Venezuela in late December, resulting in mudslides and
catastrophic flooding. Up to 50,000 people may have lost their lives. This funding
covers emergency assistance for survivors. ECHO's partners: French, German and
Spanish Red Cross Societies and European non-governmental organisations. This
funding brings the total allocated for this disaster so far to Euro 3.6 million. Further
assistance is in the pipeline.
Indonesia (Aceh, Molucca Is, Madura) - victims of conflict: Euro 3
million
Ongoing ethnic conflicts in parts of Indonesia have resulted in thousands of people
fleeing violence. Shelter and water/sanitation are major problems, and the following
NGOs are mounting projects to assist: MPDL (Spain), Oxfam (UK), Action contre la
Faim (France), Medecins sans Frontieres (Belgium).
North Korea - aid for the winter: Euro 800,000
Winter temperatures go down to -20 degrees C in parts of North Korea, where the
public health and social security system has virtually collapsed. This programme
covers distribution of warm clothes, as well as coal to heat creches, orphanages,
health centres, hospitals and other institutions. ECHO's partners: Children's Aid
Direct (UK), Concern (Ireland), CESVI (Italy).
Russian Federation - winter aid for remote communities: Euro 2 million
The weakening of social security systems in the former Soviet Union has hit those
vulnerable in remote communities particularly hard. This one-off decision will cover
assistance for institutions looking after children, for prisons, and for vulnerable
groups such as elderly people living alone, and the homeless, including street
children. ECHO's partners: Action contre la Faim (France), Finnish and German Red
Cross.
Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine - response to winter appeal: Euro 1.9
million
These newly-independent states are having enormous difficulty covering social
security for their citizens. This funding will support children's daycare and health
centres, and provide food aid for those most vulnerable through the winter. ECHO's
partners: Danish Red Cross, Comite d'Aide Medicale (France), UNICEF and Caritas
Netherlands.
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