BRUSSELS,(insidesomalia.org)- Belgium: The European Union says it is giving €21 million (US$32.5 million) in aid to Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea to help their people survive a drought that has lasted several years.

The United Nations says 14 million people in the region are living off emergency food aid as world food prices climb and the drought cut farmers' output.

The EU will give Somalia €13 million (US$20 million) and Ethiopia and Eritrea €4 million (US$6 million each.

The aid will go toward shelter, basic health services, food, water and sanitation.

The EU said Thursday that this comes on top of millions in food aid it already has given earlier this year.