Brussels, 30/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission said it was willing to provide emergency financial aid to the populations affected by the violent earthquake that hit the north-western part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Monday evening. “An assessment team has been despatched to the affected area to undertake a speedy assessment of needs and the Commission is ready for an emergency financial response if required”, the Commission states in a press release.
“The people of Sumatra are still suffering from the effects of the massive earthquake and tsunami on 26 December - this latest shock is the last thing they needed”, European Development Commissioner Louis Michel comments in the same press release. In a declaration, the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of the Indonesian Republic after the violent earthquake off the island of Sumatra, saying that, in these difficult moments, the Presidency offers its support and its solidarity to the Indonesian people. According to a provisional count, the earthquake killed nearly 500 persons. According to the Indonesian Red Cross, however, 1,000 were killed. When it comes to the victims from the EU countries, France and Sweden, there is no news of two of these nationals and one person of Dutch nationality is reported missing.