EC humanitarian aid worth US $15-million

The European Commission (EC) has committed 17-million euros (US $15-million) of humanitarian assistance to victims of the crisis affecting the Mano River countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the EC said in a news release on Tuesday. The aid, which will be channeled through the EC`s humanitarian aid office (ECHO), will target refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs), and the local population in conflict-affected areas. It will be used to fight malnutrition, boost primary health care, and give support to the child protection sector and disabled people. It also aims to improve the availability of clean water, improve sanitation systems and promote hygiene through education and training at the community level. Emphasis will also be placed on providing shelter materials and other non-food items to the large number of IDPs in the region, the EC said. Commenting on the adoption, Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson said that the EC would continue to offer humanitarian support to vulnerable populations for as long as it is needed. The Mano River countries have each experienced conflict of varying intensity over the last 12 years resulting in massive population displacements and widespread destruction.