SA offers humanitarian assistance to four Sahelian countries

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said that the aid is to be made immediately available to Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad. The International Relations and Cooperation Department said that the decision comes after the countries approached the South African Government for assistance at a bilateral level and listed the areas where they require assistance and immediate humanitarian relief.

"South Africa has taken heed of the call made by the four core Sahelian countries because of the humanitarian crisis currently confronting this region," Nkoana-Mashabane said. "As a short term measure, emergency food and nutritional aid will be directly delivered to these sister countries as a matter of urgency. South Africa is also working out a framework of implementation of further assistance in the medium term," said the minister.

Meanwhile, the GCIS says, African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis facing several countries in the Sahel region due to environmental degradation, climate change and food insecurity. These have been aggravated by developments in the Maghreb region, the crisis in Libya, the influx of internally displaced persons, organised crime, terrorism activities and the proliferation of weapons. The council called for a more comprehensive and better-coordinated approach in addressing the situation in the Sahel region.

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