22/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 22 March, the European Commission announced that in solidarity with the victims and those left vulnerable from the floods and massive and unprecedented mudslides in Peru, the EU is mobilising €250,000 for emergency relief assistance, as an initial contribution, and has activated its civil protection mechanism. This EU mechanism will help facilitate offers to provide assistance and their appropriateness to what is needed. It will be under the control of the European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). A Commission environment expert and a liaison officer have already been sent out to Peru. In a press release, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, expressed his condolences to the grieving families and provided assurances that, “We are closely monitoring the situation on the ground and we stand ready to provide any further assistance that may be necessary”. (AN)