EU Pledges Over $160Mln In Assistance To African States In Crisis-Affected Lake Chad Area

EU Pledges Over $160Mln in Assistance to African States in Crisis-Affected Lake Chad Area

The European Union on Monday allocated additional 138 million euros ($160.2 million) in humanitarian and development assistance to the African countries located in the Lake Chad basin.

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd September, 2018) The European Union on Monday allocated additional 138 million Euros ($160.2 million) in humanitarian and development assistance to the African countries located in the Lake Chad basin.

"The humanitarian crisis in the Africa's Lake Chad basin, affecting parts of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, continues to worsen due to prolonged violence, insecurity and environmental degradation. To help the most vulnerable communities, the Commission has today announced new funding of 138 million combining humanitarian and development assistance. This is part of an overall EU aid package for the region worth 232 million," the European Commission said in a statement.

Speaking at the High Level Conference on the Lake Chad Region in Germany, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said that the EU funding was aimed at tackling poverty, environmental degradation and the effects of climate change in the Lake Chad area.

The allocated funds include humanitarian assistance that will be disbursed to Nigeria (47 million euros), Niger (15 million euros), Chad (11.8 million euros), and Cameroon (15.1 million euros); and development assistance that will go to Nigeria (74.5 million euros), Niger (32.2 million euros), Chad (33.2 million euros), and Cameroon (2.7 million euros).

The Lake Chad region has been facing a fragile humanitarian situation for years. The crisis in the area has been exacerbated by the activities of the Boko Haram militant group.

According to the EU figures, 17 million people have been affected by the crisis in the region. Over 2.4 million people have been displaced and around 3.6 people, including 440,000 severely malnourished children, are in need of urgent food assistance.

The High Level Conference on the Lake Chad Region is held in Berlin on Monday and Tuesday.