(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission on Monday announced six million euros in humanitarian aid to help some 200,000 displaced people and other vulnerable civilians in the north of the Central African Republic (CAR).

"Despite some recent political progress, the situation in the north of the country has not allowed for a significant improvement of the humanitarian situation over the past year," the commission said in a statement.

In addition to the nearly 200,000 people internally displaced people, some 98,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Sudan, according to commission figures.

The money, the equivalent of 7.6 million dollars, is provided "to limit the terrible suffering of so many uprooted families," ," said EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel.

However the EU's executive and the CAR government "are aware that the solution to the problems lies not in emergency humanitarian aid but in securing a negotiated peace, better governance and long-term development," he added.

Rebel groups, bandits and government troops have been responsible for widespread criminal activity in the CAR. The country also faces serious financial and social problems as one of the poorest nations in the world.

An "inclusive political dialogue" is due to take place in the capital Bangui from December 5 to 22.

Last year the commission provided eight million euros for vulnerable people there.

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