EU allocates US $28.8 million for humanitarian needs

The European Commission last week adopted an equivalent of US $28.8 intervention plan in response to continuing humanitarian needs in Tanzania, which has the largest refugee population in Africa, a statement from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) said on 20 April. The statement said the funds would be channelled by ECHO through partner organisations working in the country. Tanzania is currently host to more than 500,000 refugees, including more than 370,000 Burundians and 110,000 Congolese, living in 14 camps in Tanzania’s western provinces. “The numbers are likely to remain high in the near future, given the continuing instability in the region. External assistance is crucial to help the country in supporting its huge refugee burden,” ECHO said. Based on close cooperation with ECHO’s proposed partners - the International Federation of the Red Cross, UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP - this intervention plan “will make a significant contribution to meeting the humanitarian needs of the refugees”. The programme covers a wide range of actions, including shelter, food aid, health, sanitation, logistics, protection, education, community services, non-food items and environmental protection.