European Union to airlift food, basic necessities to CAR

Under a newly-established humanitarian airlift programme, the European Union (EU) has said it will lift food, medicines and other basic necessities to the Central African Republic (CAR), currently ravaged by ethnic violence.

In a communiqué issued here Monday, the EU said that under the programme, a plane capable of carrying 50 people and five tons of goods will reach Douala, Cameroun, Tuesday, from where the materials will be taken to CAR.

According to the EU, the French and international forces represent the only hope for security for millions of people in CAR who have been living in fear in the last one year.

The communiqué indicated that the EU has doubled its humanitarian aid to the CAR this year to more than 20 million euros.

It will also send more experts to Bangui to work with the humanitarian agencies in managing the EU aid to the population.