EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa: New assistance package to support vulnerable groups and address COVID-19 in North Africa

The European Commission has adopted today, through the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), a new assistance package for North Africa to protect migrants, stabilise local communities and respond to COVID-19. This package includes €80 million in new funds in support to Libya and Tunisia, as well as €30 million reallocated from non-contracted actions under the North of Africa window of the EUTF. In line with the Joint Communication on the global EU response to COVID-19, this new funding will strengthen the immediate response capacity and reinforce the health systems and services in the North African partner countries. It will also mitigate the socio-economic impact of the crisis, as well as allow for the continuation of actions to protect refugees and migrants. Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “With today's substantial and targeted assistance package we are responding to the urgent needs to fight the COVID-19 crisis and address the needs of some of the most vulnerable groups in North Africa, in particular refugees, migrants and displaced persons. In Libya, while the armed conflict continues, the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa has already supported over 200,000 beneficiaries with hygiene kits and medical assistance and over 1.7 million people have now better access to basic services in local communities,thanks to the renovation of health centres.” With today's adoption, the EUTF now funds 39 programmes in North Africa amounting to €888 million. More information can be found in the press release and in the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa website.