The European Union is providing more than 700 million euros (797 million dollars) for displaced people in sub-Saharan Africa and those affected by crises worldwide, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
She announced the funding in a video message for New York’s Global Citizen Festival, which was cancelled due to severe weather.
“Conflicts, extreme weather and rising living costs are disrupting the lives of many around the globe,” Ms von der Leyen said.
The new package, worth almost 710 million euros, would provide support to displaced communities across Africa, as well as to the communities hosting them.
In addition, emergency aid would be stepped up for people affected by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Specifically, 380 million euros is to be channelled into “migration-related measures” in sub-Saharan African countries.
According to the European Commission, one focus will be on protecting particularly vulnerable migrants, supporting voluntary return and reintegration, and responding to displacement.
A further 7.5 million euros is to be allocated to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support the response to the Ebola crisis and strengthen preparedness in the long term.
A total of 252 million euros is earmarked to support people and communities in urgent need of assistance due to factors such as conflicts, displacement, epidemics and natural disasters.
Final approval for this funding from the relevant budgetary authority is still pending.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 97 million euros of this sum is intended to help meet the growing need for assistance caused by conflicts, food insecurity, malnutrition and climate shocks.
A further 103 million euros is to go to vulnerable populations in Palestine and Lebanon, where ongoing hostilities, large-scale displacement and the significant strain on essential services are leading to an acute humanitarian emergency, according to the commission.
In Ukraine, 52 million euros is to support humanitarian aid and emergency preparedness.
This includes measures to prepare for winter, shelter, essential services and emergency energy assistance.