EC gives 2 million euros

The European Commission (EC) recently took a decision to disburse 2 million euros (about US $2.1 million) to support three west African countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia which have been affected by conflict for the past 13 years. Although the humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone had improved significantly since the civil ended two years ago, it noted in a statement on Monday, Liberia had experienced renewed fighting prompting new refugee movements to neighbouring countries. It said there were still around 40,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea, many of whom wished to return home. Currently, it noted, they were forced to take a circuitous route back to Sierra Leone involving an eight day journey. Some of the funds, to be channelled through the EC's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) would be used to upgrade a more direct transport facility across a river, thus allowing the travelling time to be reduced considerably, it said. There were also some 42,000 Liberian refugees in camps in Sierra Leone, it added. ECHO was financing the provision of basic health services in these camps to prevent epidemics and malnutrition. In addition funding was being provided to construct shelters, latrines and water points in Sierra Leone. Assistance is provided to both returnees from Guinea and to refugees from Liberia, it added. The EC has recently taken a series of humanitarian decisions worth almost 17 million euros to cover disaster prevention and relief activities in various crisis zones. It channels the assistance through ECHO which comes under the authority of Commissioner Poul Nielson.