EU provides $23m to improve Zimbabwe’s food security, water supply

July 27th, 2010 in Development, News
-Harare (Zimbabwe) The European Union has approved a € 15 million (about $23 million) aid package to support the re-establishment of essential health and water supply services and provide food assistance, short term food security and livelihood support in Zimbabwe, APA learns here on Tuesday.

The EU said here Tuesday that the new funding would address Zimbabwe’s humanitarian concerns through a wide range of interventions including support to primary health care, the provision and distribution of medicines and medical supplies, and support to the water, sanitation and health emergency response units.

Part of the money would also be used in pilot livelihood support activities, including cash transfers and voucher systems, the EU said.

“If we want Zimbabwe to get back on the path towards longer-term development, we will need to carry on with our efforts to provide clean water and sanitation facilities to the population, alongside our food assistance programmes," said Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

The EU has been one of the largest donors in funding emergency water and sanitation interventions in Zimbabwe as part of the integrated public health approach to tackle potential epidemics such as cholera and measles outbreaks.

The bloc is overall the main donor to the vulnerable population of Zimbabwe, having provided €572 million (about $880 million) in both humanitarian and essential development aid since 2002.

JN/daj/APA
2010-07-27