EU, UN discuss humanitarian situation in CAR

Brussels, Jan 21: The

(EU) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday met here to discuss the

situation in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Representatives from UN agencies, donor countries, non-governmental organisations, the Red Cross family and states of the region also participated in the discussion, Xinhua quoted an EU statement as saying.

During the meet, the participants took stock of the humanitarian challenges in CAR, identifying priorities for action in this emergency and working together to make sure humanitarian organisations have the necessary resources to deliver adequate assistance to the victims of the crisis.

"The humanitarian crisis in CAR has escalated in recent months and now affects the entire population of 4.6 million people," the EU said, adding "reaching them with assistance is complicated by insecurity and violence".

The EU is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the victims, with funding of over 76 million euros ($103 million) in 2013. With the support of the European Commission, humanitarian aid worth 39 million euros is flowing into the country.

IANS