VIENNA -- The Government of Austria has decided to provide humanitarian assistance worth 6.5 million Euros to five African countries, including Egypt, South Sudan, Uganda, Chad and Ethiopia, to assist in the provision of humanitarian needs resulting from the crisis of sheltering refugees and Climate problems.

The Austrian aid will be used to provide clean drinking water, health care supplies, and urgent assistance to prevent the aggravation of humanitarian situation in the affected areas and regions where people depend on external assistance, said Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl.

Austria’s Prime Minister Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, announced the Cabinet's approval on the resolution of humanitarian assistance, "Austria meets its humanitarian responsibilities in a fair manner," said Kurz, stressing the importance of strengthening close cooperation with African countries for improving living conditions and sustainable development.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kneissl, said that the recipient countries suffer from various challenges resulting from problems of climate and shelter of refugees, which caused humanitarian problems and hardships.

Minister Kneissl referred to the suffering of Ethiopia, the second African country hosting the largest number of refugees, because of the worst drought crisis for decades, and stressed Austria's interest in "alleviating humanitarian needs and eliminating the causes of migration," by giving people perspective that convince them to stay and not leave their countries.

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