In light of the ongoing effects of conflicts and climate-related natural disasters including drought and floods in the Greater Horn of Africa, the European Union (EU) has allocated an extra €122 million for humanitarian aid in the region.
The EU stated in a statement that the funds will assist in meeting the most pressing requirements of vulnerable populations, particularly those related to food and nutrition support, but also other services to meet basic needs, like water and sanitation in areas where disease outbreaks are likely.
It also revealed that the funds, specifically, will go toward supporting partners operating in South Sudan (€40 million), Somalia (€40 million), and Ethiopia (€42 million).
With the addition of this financing, the overall amount of EU aid to the Greater Horn of Africa is now above €421 million for the year. This amount includes a reinforcement of over €56 million that was mobilized in April to address the fallout from the Sudanese situation.
This year, South Sudan is going through a severe economic crisis, and the violence in neighboring Sudan is making the population more vulnerable and displacing more people. This summer, at least 80,000 people are predicted to experience famine-like circumstances. As September approaches, the possibility of fresh flooding is concerning, particularly for regions that have not yet recovered from the four years of flooding that preceded it.
