The EU has released EUR500,000 (over PHP33 million) in humanitarian aid to respond to the floods that have affected the Philippines in the past weeks.
The funding will help address the most pressing needs of people in the hardest hit areas of Calabarzon and Central Luzon, notably communities in hard-to-reach areas.
According to reports, more than 200,000 people remain displaced, and over 55,000 houses were partially or totally destroyed by three tropical cyclones that lashed the Philippines in a span of 10 days in the second half of July. Exacerbating the effect of the southwest monsoon, these weather conditions caused heavy rains, flash floods and landslides.
The recent allocation will be used to provide emergency relief, focusing on cash assistance to address food insecurity and other basic needs, as well as access to safe water and sanitation facilities, among other activities.
This new funding comes in addition to the EUR6 million already allocated this year in humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness to the Philippines.
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.
