EU, US, UAE release aid for typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union has released 1.2 million euros or P76 million in humanitarian aid for victims of floods in Mindanao in the past month.

EU Commissioner for crisis management Janez Lenar?i? said the funding would help address the most pressing needs of people in Mindanao that was hit the hardest.

The allocation will be used to provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable families in heavily affected areas, focusing on food assistance, access to safe water and sanitation facilities and other essential services.

This new funding comes in addition to the 3.1 million euros already allocated in humanitarian assistance to the Philippines earlier this year to respond to the protracted crisis in Mindanao and to the floods that affected other parts of the island in February.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also provided assistance to the Philippines for Typhoon Carina victims.

The UAE turned over its donations in a ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Tuesday.

The donation included 2,464 packs of milk powder, wheat flour, tea powder, rice, cooking oil, red lentils, peas, dates, juice, oats, tomato paste, sugar and salt.

The UAE government also provided 4,928 packs of pasta and other basic food items.

Meanwhile, the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing P55 million in humanitarian aid to communities affected by widespread flooding.

Announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Manila on Tuesday, this assistance will address the needs of affected and vulnerable communities in Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, the National Capital Region and Pampanga.

Through this funding, USAID, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services and Action Against Hunger, will provide families with access to food aid, hygiene kits, emergency shelter kits, clean water and one-time cash transfers that will allow them to recover from the disaster safely and with dignity.

“The United States is providing $1 million to ensure life-saving assistance reaches families across the archipelago who have been devastated by severe flooding and landslides,” said USAID acting mission director Betty Chung.

Since July 16, USAID has been providing logistical assistance to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in response to catastrophic floods and rains in Mindanao and Central Luzon.

USAID also supported the International Organization for Migration in distributing 700 shelter-grade tarpaulins and the World Food Program in transporting 30,000 family food packs to communities in Mindanao.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s latest assessments, Typhoon Carina enhanced the southwest monsoon and caused heavy rainfall, massive flooding and landslides across the Philippines that killed at least 14 people and displaced more than 700,000.