EU provides P156 million to victims of humanitarian crises in PH

A Filipino man clears away debris from the remains of his damaged home as strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. AP

The European Commission is making available €3 million (P 156.34 million) in humanitarian aid funding to assist people affected both by the aftermath of Typhoon Melor (locally known as Nona) and the prolonged conflict in Mindanao. 

Out of the total funding, €1.5 million (P 78.17 million) will be dedicated to addressing the urgent needs of those impacted by Typhoon Melor/Nona, which swept across central Philippines in mid-December 2015 and resulted in devastating losses for the affected populations. 

The fund will provide the most vulnerable families in the storm-stricken areas, particularly in southern Luzon and eastern Visayas islands, with essential support such as food and shelter assistance, livelihood resources, cash as well as other non-food relief items. 

A further €1.5 million (P 78.17 million) will help deliver humanitarian assistance to populations affected by the “forgotten crisis” of Mindanao, where 495 000 people have been displaced since 2012. 

The continued violence has destroyed people’s day-to-day livelihoods in the area, whilst triggering an increase in humanitarian needs among the most vulnerable populations. 

The aid will therefore be used to provide protection and livelihood support to conflict-torn localities through the provision of food, shelter, education, basic health services as well as ensuring access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. 

The latest EU funding, which will be channelled through the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), brings the total humanitarian aid contribution in the Philippines to €98.4 million, since the first humanitarian operations in 1997.

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