Nairobi, Kenya - France has tripled aid to the Horn of Africa region in response to the current humanitarian crisis affecting the region. France decided to strengthen its assistance to the region by increasing its aid from 10 million euros to 30 million euros, as announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy, on 1 August, 2011, the French embassy in Nairobi said.

'The allocation of these funds has been decided after consultations with key stakeholders, including the United Nations humanitarian agencies and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) specializing in emergency aid,' the French embassy said.

The first 10 million euros of the French aid has already been allocated and distributed between the International organisations and NGOs currently working on the ground.

The supplementary 20 million euros will be devoted to financing emergency aid conducted by International Organisations in the horn of Africa, in the first place, the World Food Programme (WFP), and also UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM and OCHA. Contribution to the ICRC has also been increased.

These financing arrangements are committed to actions in favour of nutrition and health for populations in Somalia, notably the internally displaced persons as well as those living in the refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia.

The supplementary allocation will also fund some of the longer term actions, especially support for restarting agricultural activities.

Finally, it will allow for the completion of financial support given to the NGOs that are active in the field.

Pana 15/08/2011