(Ecofin Agency) - The European Union (EU) has committed to providing humanitarian aid amounting to €171 million ($185.2 million) to support the populations in the Horn of Africa, as per a statement released by the European Commission on Tuesday, February 27. This financial assistance is aimed particularly at alleviating the severe food and nutritional crisis plaguing the region, enhancing access to basic services, and providing education and protection for children caught in humanitarian crises.

The allocated funds will support humanitarian projects in several countries: Djibouti (€500,000), Ethiopia (€38 million), Kenya (€11.5 million), Somalia (€37 million), South Sudan (€49.5 million), and Uganda (€27.5 million). Moreover, an extra €7 million will be dedicated to disaster preparedness programs across the region.

The EU's funding priorities include addressing the acute food and nutritional crisis, improving access to essential services, ensuring education and protection for children in humanitarian emergencies, and establishing systems for anticipating disaster consequences through emergency planning and swift action.

“People in the Horn of Africa are facing mounting humanitarian needs as the region is plagued by multiple conflicts, climate extremes, and economic shocks. Around 65 million are estimated to be in immediate need of assistance,” the European Commission stated, highlighting the urgency and scale of the humanitarian challenge in the region.