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EU approves USD 1.7 bln in global humanitarian aid

BRUSSELS, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- The European Union has announced its initial annual humanitarian budget of USD 1.7 billion (1.5 billion euros) for 2022, the single-currency bloc said on Monday.
A sum of 351 million euros (USD 401 million) of EU humanitarian funding will be allocated for needs in the Middle East and North Africa, namely in Syria, said the European Commission in a press release.
Another 188 million euros (USD 214 million) will go to help the most vulnerable populations in Asia and Latin America including Afghanistan and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Another sum of 469 million euros (USD 535 million) will be allocated to Sub-Saharan Africa to support those suffering from the food and nutrition crisis exacerbated by conflict in the Sahel and other regions, according to the statment.
Some 152 million euros (USD 173 million) will fund projects in Southeast Europe and the European Neighbourhood addressing crises in Ukraine, Western Balkans and the Caucasus, as well as the effects of the Syria crisis in Turkey.
"Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high and continue to grow, mostly due to conflicts but increasingly due to global challenges like climate change and COVID19, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said.(end) nk.nam