MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) has released €450,000 or approximately PHP 30.690 million in humanitarian aid to help communities severely affected by the two powerful earthquakes off the coast of Davao Oriental earlier this month.
“This funding will bring emergency assistance to the most affected population, such as people staying in temporary shelters,” the Delegation of the EU in the Philippines said in a news release.
Of the total allocation, €300,000 or PHP 20.460 million will be granted to the ACCESS consortium led by NGO CARE and will prioritise interventions to provide shelter and access to water and sanitation, among other relief actions.
“This funding released today will complement the initial relief efforts implemented by the ACCESS consortium as part of the ongoing EU-funded Rapid Response mechanism, that was immediately activated after the earthquakes,” the EU confirmed.
The remaining €150,000 or PHP 10.230 million will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering tents and household items such as sleeping kits and kitchen sets, as well as cash assistance, hot meals and clean water. Other funded activities include healthcare and safe spaces for children.
The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the EU said.
The EU mentioned that the new funding comes in addition to the €8.05 million or PHP 549 million already allocated this year in humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness to the Philippines.
This included €1.3 million or PHP 88.659 million allocated in response to tropical cyclones that affected the country in July and late September, and the €750,0000 or PHP 51.149 million in response to the previous earthquake in Cebu, the EU added.
