The European Commission has allocated €600 millions of European Development Fund to finance immediate humanitarian food aid, food production and resilience of food systems in the most vulnerable countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), an official statement obtained Monday by APA in Kigali said.
The statement said that the humanitarian relief aims to help partner countries and vulnerable people to cope with the unjust consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, notably the current food security crisis and related economic shock.
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen was quoted by the statement as saying that the EU’s swift and comprehensive response to the current food insecurity in several vulnerable partner countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific area demonstrates our strong solidarity towards our partners, in particular in Africa.
“It helps shoulder the consequences felt worldwide of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In the short-term we are helping families with food and nutrition assistance and helping countries to buy the food they need; as part of the Global Gateway strategy, we also work on solutions to address current and future risks by investing in local sustainable food systems to enhance resilience,” she said.
Commenting on the move, EU commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič added: “The global food insecurity is our utmost concern. Data shows that tens of millions more people are facing food shortages compared to an already difficult last year”
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine dramatically exacerbated the situation for the most vulnerable in the world who are already facing the consequences of armed conflicts, the effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
According to him, just now famine is knocking on the door in Somalia. “The newly allocated funds will help those in a dire situation meet their emergency food needs. The EU remains committed to support the most vulnerable. However, humanitarian aid cannot substitute efforts needed to increase resilience of most vulnerable populations.
Sustainable development-oriented solutions to end hunger are key,” Lenarčič said
It said the decision to swiftly redirect €600 million to food security in ACPs from de-committed funds from the 10th and 11th European Development Fund was announced by President Von der Leyen in June 2022 and the allocation received green light from Member States in September.
CU/abj/APA