Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission decided to provide 210 million euro to alleviate food insecurity in most affected countries.
In a statement released on Monday, the EC pointed out that food insecurity is rising globally and noted that it will provide the latest aid package to 15 countries.
This brings the Commission’s support aimed at alleviating food insecurity in the period between 2020 and 2024 to roughly 8 billion euro.
The EC stressed that food insecurity affected more than 200 million people worldwide this year and added that they need urgent assistance, noting that Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are at risk of famine.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that the war in Ukraine has negative effects on the food supply.
“Countries that were already vulnerable to food shocks have been put in a dramatic situation,” she warned and added that the EC “must act to avoid famine in some of the poorest areas of the world.”
“The EU stands with the most vulnerable countries and today the EU further extends its support to those in need,” Von der Leyen concluded.”
Aid allocation by country
In West and Central Africa, the Commission is planning to send 4 million euro to the Central African Republic, 2 million to Burkina Faso and Niger each, and 1 million to Mali and Chad each, stressing that the move will help the countries to minimise negative effects of food insecurity.
In East and Southern Africa, the EC will provide 10 million euro to Ethiopia and Somalia each, 9 million to Sudan and 6 million to South Sudan to help the countries provide food, water and sanitation to the most vulnerable.
In the Middle East, Yemen will receive 35 million euro, followed by Syria with 15 million and Lebanon with 5 million, with the EC stressing the importance of providing food assistance to countries facing food insecurity.
Afghanistan will receive 75 million euro and countries in Latin America, including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, will receive 30 million. The EC reminded that it previously allocated 175 million euro in humanitarian aid to Moldova and Ukraine.
