Brussels, 15/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - Following Saturday's earthquake in Central America, which mainly hit El Salvador, the European Commission reacted promptly with the decision to release EUR 2 million in emergency aid. The disbursement of the funds is currently in progress so that aid may reach the victims this week. ECHO, the European Community's Humanitarian Office, immediately sent an expert to the region affected to make a first assessment of the most pressing needs. On the basis of information available, the EUR 2 million from the ECHO budget will be used to provide drinking water supplies, shelter, food aid and medicine. On Wednesday, a support team of experts will be on the ground to make a further evaluation of requirements. In the meantime, ECHO is in contact with its partners present in the region (the non-governmental organisations operating in that area) in order to organise rescue work. Humanitarian operations funded by ECHO will, in all likelihood, be implemented by the Red Cross, Médecins sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde. The spokesman for Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, told the press on Monday that this decision for ECHO funding should be completed, in a second stage, by the granting of additional funds given the magnitude of damage caused, the provisional estimate of which could steadily increase.
The countries of Central America should specify their first estimates of needs during the fourth meeting on Thursday and Friday next, in Madrid, of the advisory group for reconstruction in Central America. The group, formed in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch, under the aegis of the American Development Bank, should take stock of the situation regarding implementation of the reconstruction projects. The European Commission, represented by Latin American Director Francisco da Cãmara, is to present the first results of its long term rehabilitation programme amounting to EUR 250 million, an allocation for which disbursement was not begun until end 2000 after the external services of the European executive had been reorganised.
From Morocco, where he was completing an official visit, Commission President Romano Prodi presented his condolences to the families of the earthquake victims.