The European Union has announced €201 million in humanitarian funding to support the most vulnerable people affected by the humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria. This funding will address food security, malnutrition, healthcare, protection, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, education, and transportation needs.
EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Insecurity, violence, and over a decade of armed conflict is driving communities in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions to new depths of suffering… I urge the rest of the international community to play its part.”
The funding will support humanitarian projects in:
– Mali (€24 million)
– Niger (€24.6 million)
– Chad (€57.9 million)
– Nigeria (€31.5 million)
– Mauritania (€5.7 million)
– Burkina Faso (€26.9 million)
– Cameroon (€21 million)
The humanitarian situation in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions is alarming, with over 35 million people in need of assistance. Despite this, the crisis remains largely underfunded, with humanitarian appeals receiving only about one-third of the required funds in 2023.
The funding will also support the response to epidemics and population movement through the Emergency Toolbox, an instrument dedicated to emergency response for vulnerable people outside the EU.
The delivery of aid and access to local populations in conflict-affected areas remain limited due to restrictions and bureaucratic impediments. The humanitarian community is still present, but the assistance provided is not sufficient to cover the needs.
The EU’s funding aims to bridge the growing gap between human need and available resources, urging the international community to scale up its efforts to address the crisis.