European Union and donors pledge $1.7 billion to meet emergency aid in Sahel region

European Union, on October 20, pledged 43.6 million euros ($51.5 million) to help meet emergency aid and food needs to three countries in Africa’s Sahel region. United Nation anunced that over 20 dors, including EU, have pledged nearly $1.7 billion to help people in Burki Faso, Mali and Niger. three African countries are at epicentre of a humanitarian crisis and dors pledged to provide aide for this year and over $700 million for 2021 and beyond. 

European Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said, " EU’s pledge consists of 23.6 million euro in funding for humanitarian actions in Burki Faso, Mali and Niger, and 20 million euro in development funding to dress food crisis afflicting central Sahel region”. He ded that EU has alrey ‘mobilised eight billion euros for region since 2014. 

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UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that funds will help around 10 million people in Africa’s Sahel region for remained of this year and through next year with ‘nutrition, food, health services, water sanitation, shelter, education, protection and support to survivors of -based violence’. pledge by dors come as part of a virtual ministerial meeting aimed at spotlighting one of worlds fastest-growing humanitarian crisis in a region plagued by increasing conflict, weak governance and a lack of development. 

UN seeks $2.4 billion in Sahel aid 

While speaking at a high-level virtual dors meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that central Sahel region is at a breaking point and humanitarian needs in border region of three countries have reached record levels. 

Guterres said, “ security situation has deteriorated sharply, harshly affecting people’s daily lives. Violence is rising, and women and girls are especially vulnerable. Internal displacement has increased twenty-fold in less than two years. Climate change is threatening people’s livelihoods. And COVID-19 is making all of it worse”. 

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UN chief ded that this downward spiral is a microcosm of cascing global risks converging in one region and need to be reversed with a renewed push for peace and reconciliation. UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock also expressed fear that region is ‘very close’ to a tipping point with ripple effects that could reach neighbouring countries and furr afield. He reiterated that where in would ‘worries’ him as much as Sahel in medium-term. 

During high-level meeting, Lowcock called on international community and Sahel government to make far bigger investment in basic services. Both Guterres and Lowcock appealed for $2.4 billion to cover remains months of year 2020 and 2021.

(Im & Inputs: AP) 

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