Sara Nya Biel Char is clearing dry grass from a patch of hard dry ground. The rainy season has just ended and the black cotton soil is sun-baked, the cracks forming a web of patterns. She is preparing the ground for a new tukul, a round hut, which will be home for her and her three daughters. - Like most towns in South Sudan, Nasir county in Upper Nile State is in a state of excitement. It is less than one month to the much anticipated referenda vote which will see the people of South Sudan choose unity with or separation from the North. Southerners living in the north have been returning to their places of origin since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. In the period preceding t…

South Sudan is on the verge of a historic vote; a vote on self determination. In the past weeks, many southerners have returned, not just to vote but to settle; some facilitated by the Government of South Sudan, others spontaneously finding their way back, most by boats and barges on the river Nile. - Marilena Chatziantoniou, is a South Sudan-based expert for the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), which has a €131 million programme in Sudan. She has been monitoring the humanitarian situation. Question: You have been monitoring projects in South Sudan in these last weeks; what is the humanitarian situation? Marilena Chatziantoniou: Humanitarian needs in S…

The European Commission has approved an additional package of €17 million to support the advance preparation of essential humanitarian provisions in Darfur, the South and the Transitional Areas ahead of the referendum on the self determination of Southern Sudan, expected in January 2011. This new decision brings the Commission's support for humanitarian aid in Sudan to a total of €131 million. - Commissioner Georgieva said: "The humanitarian needs in several parts of Sudan are considerable. We need to boost our response to avoid the looming breakdown in food assistance programmes. We also need to provide support to our partners so that they are prepared, thus preventing a further d…

The Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection has reiterated the commitment of the European commission to include measures for reducing disaster risks in humanitarian and development actions worldwide, on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction. - Since 1996, the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) has integrated a Disaster Preparedness Programme into its humanitarian interventions, particularly in the world's most disaster-prone regions. "The great challenges posed by climate change, population growth and increase of industrial activity contribute to the alarming rise in the number of deaths, injuries and displacements, and the…

Guyatu Bagaja heaves a 20-litre jerry can onto her back and with the help of a younger woman, she firmly secures it using a rope that crosses her shoulders twice, instantly forming rucksack-like straps. - Guyatu does not own a donkey, the animal commonly used to carry water in this area; so she carries the water on her back. She slowly inches her way up the gentle slope of the Somare water pan, carefully watching her each step. She repeats this strenuous routine every other day, but she is extremely satisfied. Guyatu is among some of the poorest women in northern Kenya. She is widowed and lives with her four children and grandchildren. None of her sons is gainfully employed and they do no…

Extreme poverty and frequent natural disasters are a constant feature of life in northern Kenya and across the Horn of Africa. But continuous poor development and local conflict are worsening the already grim situation. - Natural hazards such as droughts and floods continue to pose life-threatening challenges to the communities in this region, most of who depend on livestock for their sustenance. Impacts of droughts are particularly severe because in the current conditions the communities cannot cope with the stress exerted on the resources and are highly vulnerable to the harsh conditions. Benoit Collin is the head of the Disaster Risk Reduction programme at the European Commission Human…

- Brussels, 19 August 2010 "Don't shoot, I'm a humanitarian worker!" On World Humanitarian Day the European Commission calls for respect for humanitarian principles [img][/img] On World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, the European Commission honours humanitarian workers who have lost their lives or freedom, or have been injured during the course of their work. The European Commission, through its Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), has staff permanently present in crisis spots around the world. ECHO works closely with partner relief organisations such as specialised UN agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement and non-governmental organisations. Together they ensure the delivery…

- August 19, 2010 By Kristalina Georgieva Relief workers have a difficult profession - these days we see them surrounded by flames and floods. But the most dangerous job is done by those working in conflict zones. [img][/img] Did you know that last year more humanitarian workers died in action than UN peace keepers? Did you know that in one decade the number of men and women who lost their lives in service to humanity has tripled -- from 30 in 1999 to 102 in 2009, and the number of kidnappings has gone up from 20 to 92? I did not know these statistics until I took up my post as European Union (EU) Commissioner for humanitarian aid. Since then I have travelled to many place…

In response to the worsening food crisis affecting the Sahel and Sudan, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva announced that the Commission has proposed an additional €40 million in humanitarian funding to be drawn from the EU budget's Emergency Aid Reserve. - €30 million of this would be additional funding for the Sahel and €10 million for Sudan. This extra €30 million will bring the total humanitarian aid funds allocated by the Commission to fighting malnutrition in the Sahel since the end of 2009 to €98 million. The additional funds will be used to boost the humanitarian aid operations carried out by European Commis…

The European Commission has adopted a € 15 million aid package to provide assistance to Somali populations at Dadaab camps, the biggest refugee camps in the world, hosting more than 278,000 people. - The sectors covered by this decision include health, water and sanitation, non food items, shelter and protection. In addition, € 5 million will be allocated from this new funding to provide immediate food and livelihood assistance to people who are struggling to cope with the increased frequency of severe drought in the arid, semi-arid and coastal regions of the country. The Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, stated: "…

The European Commission has adopted a €35 million funding decision to support humanitarian activities in Somalia. - It is estimated that approximately 3,200,000 people, about 42% of the population of Somalia, would need emergency humanitarian assistance and/or livelihood support in the first half of 2010; at the same time field assessments suggest that the situation is unlikely to improve in the second half of this year. The €35 million Decision adopted today will address a wide range of relief interventions in the following sectors; health, nutrition, food aid/food security, water and sanitation, non-food items/shelter, disaster risk reduction, logistics, security, and the coordination …

The European Commission has adopted a €15 million aid package to support the reestablishment of essential health and water supply services and to provide food assistance, short term food security and livelihood support in Zimbabwe. - This new Commission funding decision will address these humanitarian concerns via a wide range of interventions including support to primary health care, the provision and distribution of vital and essential medicines and medical supplies, and support to the water, sanitation and health emergency response units. Part of the money will also be used in pilot livelihood support activities including cash transfers and voucher systems. The Commissioner for Int…

- Brussels, July 2010 Questions and Answers on Sahel and Food Insecurity The Sahel is a belt of mainly arid and semi-arid land that stretches across Africa from Cape Verde in the west to Sudan in the east, covering parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Many of these countries are threatened by food insecurity, particularly Niger and Chad, whose governments have declared an emergency and asked for international assistance. [img][/img] What are the underlying causes of the food crisis in Sahel? The Sahel is one of the poorest regions in the world. Access to clean water, food, education and health services i…

Niger is one of the countries of the Sahel region, which also covers parts of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, northern Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Many of the countries in the area are threatened by food insecurity, especially Niger and Chad, whose governments have declared a state of emergency and asked for international assistance. - The European Commission on humanitarian and civil protection provides update on the situation on the ground. What is the current situation in Niger? Out of a total population of 15 million, 3.3 million are considered severely food insecure, and a further 3.8 million moderately food insecure. It is estimated that there ar…

The European Commission has adopted a €15 million aid package to address a critical food security situation in Ethiopia where an estimated 5.2 million people will be requiring food assistance this year. Most of the funds will be channeled towards food assistance for disaster affected population. - According to a statement from the EU, the assistance also include food aid, nutrition and short-term food security. Support will also be given to the agricultural and livestock sectors, to safeguard livelihoods and improve food security. The new funding decision will also provide a response to compounding needs in the health and water and sanitation sectors, to avoid health risks such as the re…

Loveness Dube may be new to farming, but this Zimbabwean former sex worker is committed to making a success of her new venture and never returning to selling herself to support her family. - She is one of 30 women, many of whom are also former sex workers, who are working a newly dug urban community garden in Gweru city in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. The fenced garden, just on the outskirts of the city, measures one hundred square metres; each woman has her own plot. 'I plan to grow some sweet potatoes and tomatoes as well as some green leaves for soups,' said 41-year-old Loveness. 'I didn't know how to grow food, but after receiving training, I am now confident…

- By Martin Karimi GWERU, ZIMBABWE: An urban farming programme in Zimbabwe is promising to turn former sex workers into farmers in an attempt to meet the need for nutritious and cheap food. It is hoped the project in Gweru, funded by the European Commission, will not only help some of the most vulnerable members of society, but also perhaps even make the city self-sufficient in food. Regina Gapa is a Programme Officer with the European Commission and has recently visited this programme. Question: You have been visiting this programme; what have you seen so far? Regina Gapa: I have seen a very unique food security intervention which is targeting poor neighbourhoods around the cit…

- The European Union's most senior humanitarian aid official has called on the Sudanese authorities to ensure access and security in the country's troubled Darfur region. The European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, spent four days in Sudan, meeting high level Sudanese Government officials and touring the Kalma camp for internally displaced people in South Darfur state. [img][/img] Question: What are your impressions of Kalma camp? Kristalina Georgieva: Kalma camp, just outside Nyala in South Darfur state is the first relocation centre where displaced people affected by the 2003 conflict gathered. With a popul…

- A distribution of sorghum, beans, salt and oil is underway at Kalma camp just outside Nyala in Sudan’s South Darfur state. Orderly lines of patient people, mainly women, have formed as the process of identification, validation and finally distribution takes place. This is one of many regular food distributions carried out in Kalma camp. Approximately 82,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the north and south of Darfur following a period of sustained conflict beginning in 2003; all these people, who have no other means to survive, need to be fed. Community leader Sabir Karan Redwan like many of the inhabitants of Kalma has lived there for 8 years. ‘We don…

The €46 million agreement announced Monday will be used to provide immediate food assistance for the populations in Darfur and Southern Sudan. - Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who participated in a meeting of the executive board of the WFP said after the official announcement: “Humanitarian needs have increased dramatically in Sudan, so additional funding is vital. I am deeply concerned about the situation of civilians affected by the recent fighting in some areas of South Darfur, particularly Jebel Marra, and parts of West Darfur. Several thousands of people have been displaced and urgently need our assistance and, worryingly, humanitarian agencies have no access to them.” …

Zimbabwe's largest ever vaccination campaign is underway with up to five million children under the age of fifteen due to be immunized against measles over a ten day period. The measles campaign follows the outbreak of the virus across the country and the deaths of hundreds of children. The US$8 million intervention is being supported by the European Commission. - Dr Torben Bruhn, a regional medical expert for the European Commission has been in Zimbabwe to monitor the progress of the ambitious campaign. Question: How significant is this measles vaccination campaign? Torben Bruhn: This is the most ambitious vaccination campaign which has ever taken place in Zimbabwe. Five million …

- Republic of Congo Q&A with Peter Zangl, Director General of the European Commission Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) Refugees and people displaced by conflict in the central African region are to benefit from funds totalling 6.9 million euros provided by the European Commission. The money will be spent on assisting refugees in the republic of Congo (RoC) and internally displaced people in the Equateur province of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Refugees who have fled to the Central African Republic from the DRC will also be assisted. [img] [/img] A refugee in the newly established Betou camp Peter Zangl, the Director General…

- The European Commission allocates 1 million euros to tackle measles epidemic in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe is facing a large-scale outbreak of measles which began in September 2009. Since the beginning of March, the epidemic - together with the mortality rate - has spiralled with cases of the disease being reported in 45 of the country's 62 districts. Measles weakens the immune system, and can lead to the development of secondary illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis. In light of this worrying epidemic, and in order to prevent further outbreaks, a massive emergency vaccination campaign is being launched. This campaign, funded by the Commission, will enabl…

As conflict and the break-down in law and order continues in Somalia, an increasing number of Somalis are fleeing the insecurity across the country. Many end up in the Dadaab refugee camps in the east of Kenya, which now host around 270,000 people. - The European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) is a major funder of the camps. ECHO's Director General, Peter Zangl, has recently visited Dadaab to make his own assessment of the humanitarian needs there. Question: What is the current situation in Dadaab? Peter Zangl (PZ): According to figures released by the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, there are around 270,000 refugees now living in Dadaab. The number of…

- May 2, 2010, Nairobi The European Commission has allocated 3 million euros in humanitarian aid for programmes to support refugees in Kenya's Dadaab camps. Around 267,0000 refugees are currently accommodated in Dadaab, which was designed for just 90,000 people. The refugees have fled Somalia due to the ongoing insecurity caused by two decades conflict. Peter Zangl, the Director General of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), who is currently in Kenya visiting Dadaab, said: "Given the extreme overpopulation of the camp, living conditions have become particularly harsh. In 2009, we witnessed an average arrival of over 6,000 refugees every month. The ne…

- Brussels, 26 April 2010 The European Commission is providing 6 million euros to bring humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced people (IDP's) in Uganda. The funds will be channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the direct responsibility of Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva. "Even if Uganda has enjoyed relative peace since 2006, the country is still recovering from the terrible conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government which ravaged the country for two decades. More than 1.4 million internally displaced people have begun returning to their homes, but a durable solution still has to be found…

- Garowe, Somalia The continued insecurity in Somalia is causing an increasing number of people to flee their homes and find sanctuary in other parts of the country or flee across borders into neighbouring countries. But conflict is now not the only factor which is driving the displacement of people in Somalia. A severe drought in 2009 has meant that many pastoralists are no longer able to survive off the land. They have given up their traditional way of life and are now heading to towns in search of humanitarian support. Philippe Royan is the head of the Somalia office of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department and has recently visited northern Somalia. Question: What i…