EU adopts new programs for Africa

BRUSSELS, May 29 (KUNA) -- The European Union adopted on Tuesday new programs and projects worth a total of 467 million euro (USD 538 million) under the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.
The new support measures in the Sahel-Lake Chad region and the Horn of Africa will foster stability, jobs and growth, especially for young people and vulnerable groups, said an EU statement.
Today's additional funds will allow for live-saving assistance to be taken forward, including accelerating resettlements of refugees from Niger as a priority, it noted.
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini commented "we continue working to save lives, provide safe and dignified returns and legal avenues, and tackle the root causes of migration, by creating jobs and growth".
"With the UNHCR, we have evacuated 1,287 refugees from Libya to Niger, who need to be resettled swiftly now. With the IOM, we helped 22,000 people to return home and provide reintegration assistance," she said. (end) nk.mb