The European Union has approved five million Euros for Ethiopia top enable the country to effectively deal with the influx of refugees from South Sudan.

EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Kristalina Georgieva, who announced the grant in Addis Ababa yesterday, said the fund would enable Ethiopia to respond to the needs of the increasing number of refugees.

The new grant brings to a total of 31 million Euros received by Ethiopia this year, for tackling the refugee crisis.

Georgieva said the aid was channel to the government of Ethiopia through humanitarian partners, including the UN agencies and the Non-Governmental Organizations.

She said the new financing followed the influx of 190,000 additional South Sudanese refugees into Ethiopia, which brings the total refugees’ number in the country to 643,000.

Georgieva said the fund would help Ethiopia meet the basic needs of the refugees, which include shelter, food, water and health services.

She said that the high influx of refugees was adding to vulnerabilities in Ethiopia, which was prone to drought and floods.