Press Release: Horn of Africa: Commission earmarks further EUR10 million to improve drought preparedness

The European Commission on 13 June 2006 announced that it was giving a further €10 million in humanitarian aid to improve drought preparedness in the Greater Horn of Africa. The lives and livelihoods of around 12 million people were at risk in the region because of the drought. The Commission's aim was to reduce their vulnerability through three kinds of measures: preparing communities to deal with droughts, contingency planning, and strengthening existing early warning systems. Nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists in seven countries were to benefit from the additional assistance (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda).