European Union to give P124-million aid to Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:33 p.m.) — The European Union will be providing 2 million euros or around P124.2 million in humanitarian aid for victims of violence in Mindanao. 

“Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes due to continued conflict in Mindanao. They left everything behind and are struggling to sustain their day-to-day lives,” Christos Stylianides, European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, said. 

“This assistance underlines the EU’s solidarity with the people of the Philippines. It will ensure that the most vulnerable have sufficient means to get through these difficult times,” Stylianides said.

More than 50,000 people have been displaced in fighting between government forces and armed groups in Mindanao since last month.

Citing recent data, the EU said at least 500,000 people, including 100,000 out-of-school youth need humanitarian assistance in Mindanao.

The EU funding, which is channelled through the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, will help address the most pressing needs of affected populations. The assistance will focus on the provision of crucial support, including food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene assistance and emergency education, as well as increased protection of affected communities.

“The Mindanao conflict has been classified by the European Commission’s Department for Humanitarian Aid as a forgotten crisis due to insufficient media coverage and support from the international community, although the humanitarian needs in the region remain extremely high,” the EU said.

The government had earlier rejected development and trade assistance from the EU after President Duterte slammed its supposed meddling in his war on drugs.

(Editor's note: An earlier version of this story reported the EU was giving P12 billion in aid instead of P124.2 million. This has been corrected.)