( dpa ) - The European Commission said Tuesday it had earmarked 2 million euros (3 million dollars) in emergency aid to help refugees and other vulnerable groups affected by the conflict in Chad.
In a statement, European Union officials said the decision was taken after rebels attacked the capital N'Djamena.
"I'm deeply concerned that we are seeing another serious humanitarian crisis developing and I want to be sure that humanitarian agencies have the means to help these vulnerable people as quickly as possible," development commissioner Louis Michel said.
Michel said the EU funds were especially targeted at meeting the basic needs - including food and fresh water - of thousands of refugees and displaced people.
Aid provided by the commission is channelled through the executive's operational partners such as the UN and the Red Cross.
The commission is already funding several major humanitarian programmes in eastern and southern Chad to the tune of 30 million euros per year, officials said.