Brussels, 22/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 19 January, the European Commission granted EUR 2 million in aid to the victims of the earthquake that hit El Salvador on 13 January.
The aid package, which comes in addition to the EUR 2 million released the day after the earthquake (see EUROPE of 15/16 January, p.9), is a further response from ECHO, the EC Humanitarian Aid Office, to a tragedy in which 681 have been reported killed, 2,615 injured, 2000 disappeared and which has given rise to 45,857 refugees. The package includes food distribution, water and basic sanitation, relief items, health services and counselling, and medical supplies for the next three months. The support is being channelled through the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) already working in the country. The German, Spanish and French Red Cross are currently concentrating their efforts near San Salvador, the capital, and in rural areas, where extensive damage and loss of life has been reported. The British organisation, Oxfam, is focusing on water supplies in the capital. Several communities remain isolated due to landslides, and the Salvadorian authorities are still evacuating people from the danger zones. ECHO is heavily involved in coordinating the relief efforts, and most of the outstanding funds already made available to other ongoing projects are now being reallocated to help assist the earthquake victims. Further Community aid may be granted in coming weeks following a detailed assessment of needs currently being undertaken.