Brussels, 15/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Commission approved the granting of EUR 850,000 in humanitarian aid to Brazil to help the populations most affected by the serious flooding that occurred in July/August 2000. Taken from the ECHO budget, these funds are aimed at around 13,500 people in the State of Pernambuco. They will be used to finance, over the next twelve months, projects implemented by NGO partners of ECHO in two priority sectors: infrastructure and the reconstruction of housing (notably the reconstruction of houses and the provision of building and electrical equipment to 1,300 families) and medical and sanitary assistance (distribution of 7,500 family kits for the purification of drinking water and 2,500 additional kits aimed at covering immediate needs in terms of hygiene and health). The ECHO partner NGOs on the field are Oxfam (United Kingdom), Oxfam International, Save the Children's Fund and Caritas.