The European Union has decided to allocate 160 million euros to help alleviate world hunger, the EU Commission announced here on Tuesday.
The decision targets an estimated 18.7 million people living in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and North Africa. It is the first food aid decision for 2008. More funds will be allocated later in the year.
The funding, the largest ever launched by the commission's humanitarian aid department, aims to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people facing food shortages due to natural catastrophes, economic and political crises, and armed conflicts, the commission said.
"Vulnerable people in many of the world's poorest countries are increasingly exposed to natural disasters, conflict and economic pressures that can rapidly lead to situations whereby people go hungry," said Louis Michel, the EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
"The European Union has an essential role in providing them with food aid, and in restoring food production," Michel added.
The aid will be given to 17 priority locations, including Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombia and the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and the Gaza Strip).
"Beneficiaries will include refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in areas affected by population displacement. Children and young mothers will be given priority," the commission said in a press release.
Most projects funded under this decision will be implemented by the UN World Food Program. Nutrition and short-term food security activities will be channeled through other EU partners, it added.
Source:Xinhua
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