The European Commission said on Wednesday it has agreed a new â,¬13-million ($15-million) aid package for Zimbabwe to counter drought and food shortages.
The funds, agreed by the European Union’s (EU) executive Humanitarian Aid Office, ”will help improve nutrition, food, water and sanitation levels and combat HIV/Aids”, it said in a statement.
EU-Zimbabwe relations are cool, following EU sanctions slapped on Harare, including a travel ban on President Robert Mugabe and 71 associates, for alleged human rights and democratic abuses.
The new EU funds will provide food to over 600 000 children, and help support nearly 300 000 farms with seeds, tools and fertilisers, and assist over 100 000 orphans and vulnerable children, it said.
To maximise the impact of the aid, the commission will maintain a support office in Harare to appraise project proposals, coordinate and monitor operations, said the commission. – Sapa-AFP