Brussels, 20/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission decided to provide humanitarian aid of EUR 6.2 million for the population of Bam in south-eastern Iran affected by the tragic earthquake on 26 December 2003. This latest decision will help continued efforts to meet the most urgent needs of the victims, and will focus on health care, hygiene, sanitation, and psycho-social support. The funds are managed by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). The planned health measures will provide aid for field hospitals and units providing basic healthcare. Activates in the water and sanitation sectors will include building communal hygiene facilities and latrines, repairing drainage and sewage systems and waste collection and disposal. Psychosocial support activities will focus on helping the most vulnerable groups (children and elderly people) come to terms with the psychological consequences of the tragedy they have experienced. This aid allocation comes in addition to the initial EUR 2.3 million aid granted by the European Commission on 27 December 2003.