The European Union (EU) on Friday allocated 12 million euros (about 14.4 million U.S. dollars) to vulnerable population groups in Zimbabwe to address their food, water and other basic needs.

The humanitarian aid for 2006 targets people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans, the elderly, those who have been widowed, children-headed households and internally displaced persons, the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, said in a press release.

According to the commission, at least three million Zimbabweans are in need of emergency food assistance, among them 1.1 million AIDS orphans.

The humanitarian operations in Zimbabwe began in March and will be implemented by non-governmental organizations and specialized United Nations agencies.

In another development, the European Commission and the Zimbabwean government on Thursday signed an agreement in Gaborone, Botswana, for a 15.8-million-euro (about 190 Million dollars) EU-funded health program.

The three-year program will provide vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe with essential drugs, vaccines, medical supplies and will support training for human resources.

Since 2002, when Robert Mugabe was reelected president of Zimbabwe, the EU has suspended all assistance to the African country except for programs in direct support of the population.

Source: Xinhua