Brussels, 01/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced that it is to allocate €3 million in humanitarian aid to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to help them deal with the consequences of tropical storm Agatha, which has caused at least 95 deaths and caused 65,000 people to be displaced.
The funds, from the budget of ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid wing, will provide help for 100,000 people. The aid, which targets the most vulnerable, will be used to finance the distribution of emergency food supplies, drinking water, first aid kits, as well as primary health care, sanitation and emergency shelter.
“With the aid we are allocating today we are making an immediate gesture of European solidarity for the people of the region. We will continue, however, to monitor the situation closely, in case further needs arise,” said European International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
ECHO has been in contact with its relief partners working in the three countries since 29 May, closely monitoring the situation and providing vital needs assessments.
In Guatemala, a state of emergency has been declared throughout the country and 21,868 people are under threat. In El Salvador, 733 sites have been identified as being at risk of mudslides, and according to the authorities, 90% of the country could be under threat if the heavy rains continue. The authorities of Honduras have declared a “red alert” in 17 areas of the country. (A.N./transl.rt)