EC to support for food security and energy initiatives in Burundi
Last week, during his two day visit to Burundi, EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, announced an €18 million new project on food security for the benefit of around 20,000 households and to treat 80,000 undernourished children in the country. According to the World Food Programme, 56.8 percent of children under age five suffer from chronic malnutrition and a scientific study of 178 nations showed Burundi’s population as having the lowest satisfaction with life in the world.
The food security project, called PROPA-O, is part of the Millennium Development Goals Initiative, which is set up to help those countries who are especially off-track with the MDGs. Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries with famines and food shortages occurring, most notably in the 20th century, owing in part to its landlocked geography, poor legal system, lack of economic freedom, lack of access to education, and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS. As a result of poverty, Burundi is largely dependent on foreign aid.
As well as food security, Commissioner Piebalgs also announced support for an energy initiative (€50 million). In Burundi, only 3.5 percent of people have access to electricity. Lack of access to energy remains a major brake to further development of the country, “(€50 million).”There can be no development without energy and, unfortunately, the energy situation in Burundi remains one of the worst in the world, with daily power cuts being experienced by most people" stated Piebalgs.
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