The European Union (EU) has released 30 million euros for humanitarian aid to the vulnerable peoples of the countries in the Horn of Africa, official sources said.
According to a statement from the services of the European Commission, the money will help finance projects aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the people by helping them to improve their response and preparedness to face up to the effects of the drought cycles.
The funds will mainly benefit nomad shepherds and semi-nomads in the seven countries of the Horn of Africa, namely Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, the statement said.
It said assistance to the targeted peoples will be concentrated on the sectors of water, animal health, human health, programmes aimed at the integration of population, sensitisation campaigns and coordination of actions to be taken.
The money will also help finance maintenance work of vital water points, the establishment of the cartography of water sources and the supply of equipment for the preservation of water quality.
It will also help finance support programmes to traditional structures, improved access to pasture lands and support to early warning systems and regional and district-level planning.
Moreover, it will help finance immunisation campaigns for human beings – adults and children – and for animals as well as primary health care.
The latest aid will take to 460 million euros the total amount of humanitarian assistance from the EU to the vulnerable peoples of the Horn of Africa since 2005. Panapress.
