The Diplomat
The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has mobilized an initial humanitarian aid package of €7,050,000, channeled through the World Food Programme (WFP), to address urgent food needs in Lebanon, Palestine, Mali, and Niger.
“This contribution aims to address the urgent food security needs in Lebanon, Palestine, Mali, and Niger,” stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, in a press release. “This support comes at a time of growing humanitarian needs, stemming from protracted crises and the escalating situation in the Middle East, which further exacerbates food insecurity in already fragile contexts,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aid is a response, in particular, to the serious humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and the consequences of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on food security, both in the region and in other vulnerable contexts, especially in the countries of the central Sahel. According to the press release, there is “a significant risk” that the upcoming planting season will be severely affected “due to disruptions in international maritime traffic, which hinders the movement of essential agricultural goods, as well as the provision of humanitarian assistance.”
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.
