EC adopts euro 32 million humanitarian package

The European Commission (EC) has approved a Global Plan for 2002 worth 32 million euros (US $28 million), in humanitarian assistance for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Commission reported on Thursday. The funds are to be managed by the EC's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). "The long-running crisis in the DRC has caused suffering on an almost unimaginable scale. This is why the Commission has opted for such a substantial humanitarian aid package," EC Commissioner Poul Nielson said. "We are determined to make a real difference to people's lives and to ensure that vital relief gets to those who need it most." In its statement, ECHO said the number of displaced people in DRC who face a daily struggle for survival had doubled since 1999; and was now at least three million, including some 360,000 refugees from neighbouring countries. The outlook for much of the resident population was equally bleak; many areas had severe food deficits, and malnutrition was widespread, it said. The collapse of health and water delivery systems has resulted in the re-emergence of many diseases. As in the two previous years, ECHO said, its main focus in the Global Plan will be on health and nutrition/food security. It will continue to concentrate on the delivery of relief to the least accessible areas of the country where there are enormous needs. ECHO said it had targeted 2.7 million people to benefit directly from a range of operations carried out in almost a quarter of the DRC's health districts. The funding will be used for drugs, medical supplies, vaccines, training and logistical support. Therapeutic and supplementary feeding, aimed at tackling or preventing malnutrition, will be provided for 75,000 beneficiaries, while food, seeds and tools will go to another 300,000 vulnerable people. ECHO said it was also maintaining its support to specialist international agencies providing emergency assistance to conflict victims, supporting refugees and coordinating the efforts of the various humanitarian actors. The Global Plan was adopted before the eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo volcano; and is separate from the five-million euro ($4.38 million) assistance decision the Commission announced on Sunday.