The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has mobilised an initial package of humanitarian aid worth €7,050,000 channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP), as part of the €10 million approved by the Council of Ministers in April.
“This contribution aims to address urgent food security needs in Lebanon, Palestine, Mali and Niger,” explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares. “This support comes at a time of growing humanitarian needs, stemming from protracted crises and the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, which further exacerbates food insecurity in already fragile contexts.”
The aid is intended, in particular, to address the serious humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and the impact of the current conflict in the Middle East on food security, both in the region and in other vulnerable contexts, particularly in the countries of the central Sahel. In this regard, there is a significant risk that the upcoming planting season will be severely affected due to disruptions in international maritime traffic, which is hampering the movement of essential agricultural goods as well as the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Strengthening the humanitarian response
The geographical distribution of the funds will be as follows: Palestine, €500,000; Lebanon, €700,000; Mali, €2,800,000; Niger, €3,050,000 (earmarked for the response to the food crisis in the Tillabéri region).
These contributions, managed through the WFP, will strengthen the humanitarian response in contexts particularly affected by food insecurity, helping to mitigate the impact of the crisis, save lives and ensure access to food and livelihoods for the most vulnerable populations.
The Spanish Government thus reaffirms its commitment to international humanitarian action and multilateralism, and to addressing the food crises affecting millions of people in different regions of the world.
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