EU approves additional humanitarian aid for Libya crisis

[News_Editor]

EU approves additional humanitarian aid for Libya crisis

2011-04-13 20:31:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday announced a new aid decision of €10 million ($14.5 million), which will be directed at intensifying the evacuation of foreigners from Libya.

The evacuation aid was adopted by the European Commission and will be particularly focused for foreigners in Misrata, Libya and their repatriation to their home country.

Wednesday's decision brings the Commission's humanitarian aid in the Libyan crisis to €40 million ($58 million), and the overall size of aid from the European Commission and EU member states will now reach €96 million ($139.2 million).

Since the beginning of the conflict, the EU has been carrying out international humanitarian efforts both inside Libya and at the borders which have faced a massive outflow of migrant workers and Libyan refugees.

"Every passing day sees foreigners fleeing the continuous fighting in Libya and stranded at the borders of neighboring countries," said Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

"The best humanitarian service we can provide is to bring them quickly and safely back home," Georgieva continued, adding that with the new funding allocation, the EU must and will continue to work "relentlessly."

This recent allocation of fund will be implemented through one of the European Commission's partners in resolving this crisis - the International Organization for Migration, which coordinates the repatriation operation of fleeing migrants.

This heavy operation also relies on the continuous provision of additional aerial transportation by EU Member States. These in-kind contributions are facilitated and coordinated via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The EU has responded to the crisis in northern Africa with expert teams in both civil protection and humanitarian needs being mobilized by the Commission and dispatched to Libya, Tunisia and Egypt.

To this day, 5,800 Europeans were evacuated from the country and about 20,000 third country nationals have been repatriated by countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Previously, the European Commission allocated € 30 million ($43.5 million) for humanitarian aid in the context of the Libyan crisis in mid March. The funding was directed at first aid to the fleeing migrants and setting up transit camps in Tunisia and Egypt, with adequate shelter, sanitation and medical care.

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