Brussels, 08/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Union, through its civil protection mechanism, has come to the aid of Kyrgyzstan, after the earthquake which shook the south of the country on 1 January. As soon as it received the request for assistance from the Kyrgyz authorities, the European Commission Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) within Direction General Environment, sprung into action. By 3 January, it was coordinating the civil protection resources provided by member states, and had offered 155 winterised tents, 130 heating devices and 1000 items of warm clothing.
Four member states responded to the appeal: Sweden (90 winterised tents and heating devices), Austria (20 winterised tents and heating devices), Slovakia (25 winterised tents and 1000 items of warm clothing) and Bulgaria (20 winterised tents and heating devices, with transport still to be arranged). (A.N.)