European Union sustains support for 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union noted the improvement in the lives of victims of super typhoon "Yolanda" a year after it made a landfall over central Philippines.

In a statement, the EU said that its humanitarian assistance and early recovery interventions amount to €43.57 million (estimated P2.5 billion) humanitarian assistance for Yolanda, including the funding coming from its member states totaled €502.39 million (or P28.5 billion).

"All these contributions have made a difference for around 1.2 million people," the EU Delegation to the Philippines said in a statement Thursday.

The EU's relief efforts continue to be carried out through partner organizations such as the World Food Programme, the International Federation of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Action Contre la Faim, Save the Children, CARE, Merlin, Plan International, Oxfam, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Organization for Migration.

LIVE BLOG: The Philippines a year after 'Yolanda'

Marking the typhoon's first anniversary on November 8, the EU acknowledged that despite the apocalyptic damage caused by the record-breaking typhoon, the transition from emergency to rehabilitation was quick.

"Thanks to strength and unbroken resilience shown by the people of the Philippines, and thanks to combined efforts by aid agencies, donors, the concerned governments, including civil protection authorities, NGOs and budgetary authorities," it said.

The enormous damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan at the same time showed the high vulnerability of the Philippines to the climate change, the delegation noted.

The EU said that the prevention of dangerous climate change is a strategic priority for it and its member states.

Climate change, it noted, presents major risks to global prosperity, security and equity.

In October, an agreement was reached on a package of measures referred to as the EU 2030 as a demonstration of the leadership and ambition that the EU and its members have exhibited in its commitment to deal with climate change.

Through EU 2030, the 28-member block commits to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent domestically by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Given the vulnerability of the Philippines and the huge benefits it will reap from an ambitious climate change deal in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris 2015 can deliver, the EU offers its assistance to the Southeast Asian nation.

"[The EU is] looking forward to working together with the Philippines in the months ahead on the joint constructive and ambitious contribution to the success of the Paris conference," the delegation said.