IP/01/304
Brussels, 5 March 2001
Commission approves a further €1.4 million for
victims of cyclones Eline and Gloria
The European Commission has adopted two humanitarian aid decisions
totalling €1.4 million to provide food and nutritional support to high-risk
groups in Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The assistance is being channelled
through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). It is now a year since Cyclones
Eline and Gloria brought devastation to Madagascar and the south-eastern
part of Africa. The after-effects are still being felt, especially in areas where
local agriculture was badly hit and the crops harvested later in the year were
insufficient to cover local needs. Madagascar receives €900,000 and
Zimbabwe €500,000.
Madagascar - €900,000
Recent surveys of children, centred on the districts of Mahonoro and Nosy-Varika,
have revealed serious nutritional deficiencies. The humanitarian aid provided by the
European Commission targets almost 8000 vulnerable families with a particular
emphasis on severely malnourished children. It includes the provision of basic food
rations, and some food for work activities. ECHO’s partners who are implementing
the programmes are CARE (France), Médecins sans Frontières (F) and GAA
(Germany).
Zimbabwe - €500,000
Cyclone Eline seriously damaged food production in the Chimanimani district of
Zimbabwe, and some 15,000 people remain dependent on food assistance. The
affected households are being supplied with basic food rations and seeds for
planting. The German NGO HELP is delivering the aid.