The European Commission has adopted two decisions worth a total of 8.5 million euros (10.2 million US dollars) to help meet humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.

The funds are managed by the commission's humanitarian aid department, which comes under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel, said a statement released from the EU country office on Wednesday.

In Ethiopia, there is growing evidence of a deteriorating humanitarian situation with famine threats. More than half the population is malnourished and only 50 percent of Ethiopians have access to safe drinking water, said the statement.

Some 4.5 million euros (5.4 million dollars) has been allocated to help vulnerable people threatened by the prolonged drought and internal conflict, it said.

This will cover the provision of medical and nutritional assistance, basic water supplies, livestock support, and protection of civilians. Between 500,000 and one million people will directly benefit from actions funded under this decision, it added.

In addition to this humanitarian aid, the commission is providing significant support to Ethiopia in the area of food aid and security.

Ethiopia is an extremely poor and overwhelmingly agricultural country, with farm products accounting for over half of the country's gross domestic product and 90 percent of its exports.

Because of its degraded lands, poor cultivation practices, and frequent periods of drought, Ethiopia is chronically unable to feed its population and has to rely on massive foreign aid.

Source: Xinhua