EU adopts US $18 million humanitarian aid plan

The European Commission last week adopted an approximately US $18 million intervention plan to help meet continuing humanitarian needs in Burundi, a statement from the organisation’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) said on 20 April. The main emphasis of the funds would be on vulnerable groups such as the displaced and resettled people, drought victims and women and children who are heads of households, it said. The funds would be channelled by ECHO through 17 partner organisations working in the country. The commission would support major humanitarian programmes in Burundi in the fields of food security, nutrition, health and water/sanitation, ECHO said. Funds have also been earmarked to provide displaced and regrouped people with essential everyday items, and for logistical support, including air transport, to reach areas not easily accessible by road for security reasons. A further component of the plan aimed at helping specific groups in need of protection, namely children separated from their families and prison inmates, ECHO said. The economic and social situation in Burundi had deteriorated markedly since 1992 and, although recent developments offered some hope for restoring peace, the country remained heavily reliant on humanitarian aid, ECHO added.