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[av_heading heading=’EU allots P34M aid for ‘Vinta’ victims’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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MANILA – The European Union (EU) allocated 570,000 euros, or around P34 million, for emergency relief assistance to families affected by tropical storm “Vinta” in Mindanao.
Christos Stylianides, EU commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, said the funding will “enable our humanitarian partners to deliver lifesaving aid to those most in need, to ensure that they have the capacities to face the grave hardships.”
“Vinta” (international name: Tembin) struck on Dec. 22, leaving a trail of destruction in at least 23 provinces across Mindanao.
“This EU contribution underlines our commitment to the people of the Philippines, many of whom have suffered great losses as a result of tropical storm Vinta and are in dire need of immediate assistance,” said Stylianides. “My thoughts are with the victims and all affected by the catastrophe.”
More than 700,000 people were recorded affected, including over 100,000 presently displaced, as of Dec. 28. They included communities already displaced by ongoing conflict in the region.
Initial assessments showed more than 2,600 houses were damaged, more than 60 percent of which were completely destroyed.
The EU-funded assistance will be used mainly on the immediate needs of the “most vulnerable families,” including emergency shelters and essential household items, access to clean water, and hygiene promotion.
Humanitarian experts from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations were also deployed to some of the badly hit localities to assess the situation and identify the most pressing needs.
The EU is one of the leading humanitarian aid donors in the world, reaching over 120 million people across the globe every year.
Its aid is provided through international nongovernment organizations, the United Nations and the Red Cross societies. (PNA)
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