22 January 2014 | By Judith Ugwumadu

The European Union and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pledged a further $496m to the latest Central African Republic crisis appeal.

At a high-level meeting in Brussels on humanitarian aid for the crisis hit-country, the aid community said that it was ‘looking to scale immediate live-saving interventions and short-to-medium term assistance’. 

A new figure of $203m (€150m) in humanitarian assistance was announced, alongside nearly $271m (€200m) in stabilisation and development funds. The European Commission said it would increase its support to $61m (€45m). The aid targets the most acute needs of the population such as shelter, food, health, protection, and water. 

UN emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos said: ‘The UN’s humanitarian agencies and NGO partners are scaling up their presence across the country and are delivering as fast as security and access conditions allow – under the leadership of a senior humanitarian coordinator – following the declaration of CAR as one of our highest level emergencies.’

The meeting heard pledges of support from the European Commission, EU member states and other international donors including the United States of America, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

The gathering coincided with the meeting of EU foreign ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council to discuss an increase of the EU security presence in CAR. 

They emphasised that ‘security and protection of civilians and aid workers raise serious concerns.’ 

The European Commission added that a quick restoration of stability and order is critical to ensuring humanitarian access to the affected populations.