The Commission has mobilised additional humanitarian aid funding of €3.5 million for those affected by devastating floods in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.
In Somalia, €2 million will support the provision of emergency aid to the people most affected by the current floods, especially along the Juba River basin. This additional funding comes on top of the €5.5 million recently allocated to the country in humanitarian assistance to those most affected by the El Niño-related floods and conflict- forced displacement. The EU is also launching a helicopter deployment for hard-to-reach areas in Somalia via the European Humanitarian Response Capacity. This deployment is expected to be launched in December 2023 and last for two months.
In Ethiopia, €1 million will support humanitarian partners already present in the flood-affected areas. The support will be mainly through multi-purpose cash transfers and the distribution of shelter and essential items, including for water purification and treatment. This funding is in addition to the immediate assistance already being provided on the ground in the Somali, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regions (SNNPR) with €2.3 million through the EU’s Emergency Response Mechanism, already engaged in preparedness actions before the floods hit. This brings total EU funding in response to the recent and ongoing floods in the country to €3.3 million.
In Kenya, for which €500,000 is allocated, heavy rainfall and landslides have particularly affected areas previously hit by a severe drought, i.e. the northeast part of the country. Kenya has also had a recent cholera outbreak. In addition to this funding, €200,000 have been allocated to the Kenya Red Cross Society to support its response to the El Niño-aggravated ongoing floods.
For more information:
EU Humanitarian Aid to Ethiopia
Quotes
The Horn of Africa continues to be severely affected by extreme weather events. The devastation we see across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia is a stark reminder of the very real consequences of climate change on the most vulnerable people. Our emergency humanitarian aid will support partners delivering life-saving supplies and services, including water and sanitation, a sector of crucial importance to stem the spread of water-borne diseases. At the same time, as flooding has destroyed infrastructure, rendering many areas – especially in Somalia – inaccessible, we will finance the operations of a helicopter to deliver this life-saving aid in otherwise hard-to-reach areas.