THE European Union has released pound 750 000 (over P50 million) in humanitarian aid to respond to the recent earthquake that struck the province of Cebu, as it expressed its solidarity with the people affected by Fridays’ two powerful earthquakes in Davao Oriental and nearby areas.
‘The EU is monitoring and assessing the situation for possible further assistance to families and communities affected by this new earthquake,’ the EU said in a statement.
The P50-million allocation released to Cebu will be used to provide emergency relief, such as shelter and water and sanitation, to the most affected population, notably displaced people who have lost their homes, the EU said.
Of the total allocation, pound 250 000 will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering cash assistance, tents and household items to people that lost their homes, as well as healthcare services. The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This new funding comes in addition to the pound 7.3 million already allocated this year in humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness to the Philippines. This included pound 1.3 allocated in response to tropical cyclones that affected the country in July and late September.
The EU funding is being made available via the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) department of the European Commission. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters around the world every year, providing assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.
The European Union is signatory to a pound 12 million agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF, which can then be replenished by the donors.