eLankidetza supports humanitarian projects in conflicts and situations of violence

eLankidetza-Basque Agency for Development Cooperation will contribute 4.5 million euros to support 23 projects aimed at the protection of people affected by humanitarian crises in conflict contexts or situations of violence throughout the world.

Humanitarian crises are increasingly frequent, long-lasting, and affect an increasing number of people. In 2020, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 28 million people had to leave their homes due to war, conflicts, persecution, violence and violations of human rights. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) calculates that this year 235 million people throughout the world will need humanitarian assistance, which is an increase of 40%.

Thanks to the work carried out by both Basque and local organisations, in 2021, eLankidetza will support twenty-three humanitarian action projects in the Central American migration corridor, Colombia, the African Great Lakes, the Sahel and the Middle East, among others. Some of the initiatives to be carried out are related to psychosocial care for Palestinian minors who have been detained and suffered torture or other types of violence; support for Central American women who are exposed to multiple episodes of violence during their journey to the USA or Costa Rica, and to provide accompaniment for the safe return of the indigenous communities of the Emberá people displaced by violence in Colombia.

In addition, many of the programmes receiving backing will be carried out in Africa. Among these initiatives, special attention will be given to providing food for Sahrawi refugee children and youths; ensuring the inclusion in schools of minors with disabilities who are refugees in Tanzania, or caring for women internally displaced by violence in Niger.

Emergencies in impoverished countries

One of the commitments of the Humanitarian Action Strategies of eLankidetza is to respond to humanitarian emergencies by making financial contributions to international calls or global funds such as the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

CERF is a fund created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 to respond to humanitarian emergencies such as Haiti and Afghanistan. The fund obtains contributions from UN member states, private donors and sub-state governments, such as those of the Basque Country, Flanders and Catalonia.

The fund’s main objectives are to provide a rapid response with the aim of reducing loss of life, improving the response to time-critical needs, and strengthening the humanitarian response in situations with insufficient financing.