EU allocates €35 million to Somalia

The European Commission has allocated €35 million to support humanitarian activities in Somalia.

The Commission explained that it was estimated that approximately 3.2 million people, about 42% of the population of Somalia, would need emergency humanitarian assistance and/or livelihood support in the first half of 2010 and the situation is unlikely to improve in the second half of this year.

The €35 million will address a wide range of relief interventions in various sectors including health, nutrition, food aid/food security, water and sanitation, non-food items/shelter, disaster risk reduction, logistics, security, and the coordination of partner operations.

Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said: “The people of Somalia are the first victims of the deadly combination of continuous fighting and adverse climatic conditions. Their extreme resilience has been stretched to the limit. Many Somali die in silence for lack of food, medical and sanitary care. We cannot let them down however difficult and dangerous the conditions are for our relief-work-, The Commission as leading humanitarian donor will continue its long-standing commitment to address the main humanitarian needs of the Somali population.”

More than 18 years of clan-based conflict and civil unrest in central and southern Somalia have had a devastating impact leading to huge population displacements. The situation has been aggravated by worsening cyclical droughts, floods and outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as cholera, resulting in wide-spread humanitarian needs.

The Commission said it recognised the complexity of the situation and the need for assistance in multiple sectors, as well as mainstreaming disaster risk reduction activities in order to reinforce the resilience and coping mechanisms of the affected people.

It pointed out, however, that the situation on the ground remains extremely difficult and dangerous for aid agencies; their ability to access and operate in Somalia remains severely constrained, especially in the central and southern regions of the country.

TimesofMalta.com