Brussels, 12/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission will be providing €3 million in aid to the victims of Typhoon Bopha over the next 72 hours. This decision taken on 12 December is based on an evaluation of the needs of the victims of this huge natural disaster that occurred last week. So far, the national authorities report a very significant toll of dead and injured, with more than 500 fatalities, while more than 800 others are still missing and some 300,000 people have been displaced, nearly half of whom are still in evacuation centres.
Funds will be taken from the ECHO budget and will go towards meeting urgent basic needs such as food, drinking water and shelter of those in greatest need, in particular children, pregnant women and the elderly. This initial emergency aid will be delivered by humanitarian partner organisations of ECHO working on the ground, and may be increased later. (AN/transl.fl)