The European Commission on Friday allocated an additional 5 million euros (7.3 million U.S. dollars) in humanitarian aid for those affected by the conflict between Georgia and Russia, Xinhua reported. "We are now releasing additional funds following the United Nations' Georgia Crisis Flash Appeal and on the basis of our assessment of the evolving humanitarian situation on the spot and in consultation with partner relief organizations," said Louis Michel, European Commissioner for development and humanitarian aid. "However, access to the conflict-affected areas remains the most serious constraint to our humanitarian response. I call upon the Russian authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid workers have full and safe access to the people in need," he added. The Commission's move follows Russian Ground Forces Commander Vladimir Boldyrev's statement Thursday that all troops will pull back to Russian territory in 10 days. Peacekeepers' posts will open Friday and Russian soldiers not involved in peacekeeping operations would return to Russia, Boldyrev said. The new aid is in addition to the 1-million-euro (1.47-million-U.S. dollar) fast-track humanitarian aid released by the Commission on Aug. 10, shortly after the conflict started. The new package has been allocated through the Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) of the European Commission, the European Union's executive arm. ECHO experts will remain in the conflict region, evaluating needs, coordinating activities with relief partner organizations and monitoring the use of Commission funds. The new funding covers food aid, shelter, emergency water and sanitation facilities, non-food items like hygiene kits, clothes, blankets, water containers, cooking and kitchen utensils, health care, logistics and protection, notably for women and children. Mine clearance as well as mine awareness training and mine risk education activities, with a special emphasis on children, is also covered. The beneficiaries will be the conflict-affected populations from Georgia, including internally displaced people from South Ossetia, the town of Gori and surrounding areas, people from western Georgia fleeing the fighting in Abkhazia plus the returnees, and refugees who fled from South Ossetia to Russia and those who have already returned to South Ossetia, the Commission said.
