Brussels, 16/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on 16 May that it is providing €2 million in emergency humanitarian relief to help victims of the huge earthquake that struck Sichuan province in China on 12 May 2008. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (CPM) will be sending a team of experts to China on 17 May to help coordinate expert and material assistance provided by five member states (Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Malta).
EU Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel issued a press release in which he said that 'The EU stands by China in this hour of grief. We want to express our solidarity with the Chinese people, not just in words but also in deeds. The €2 million released by the European Commission will help bring vital items to the survivors of this terrible earthquake.'
The funds from the European Commission's humanitarian aid department ECHO will be channelled through relief operations agencies, and enable money to be provided within 72 hours to fund the immediate needs of the survivors, providing tents, blankets, clean drinking water, food, jerry cans, cooking kits and medical assistance. The International Red Cross Federation and other partner agencies will channel the aid. A European Commission humanitarian aid expert is already at work in the disaster zone, cooperating with the local authorities and humanitarian partner organisations.
The civil protection resources provided by the member states (shelters, emergency health kits and expert assistance through the Civil Protection Mechanism) were provided in response to a request for aid from the MIC from the Chinese authorities the day after the earthquake. The MIC is the European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre, responsible for coordinating offers of aid. The MIC already knew about the earthquake through the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). The MIC has been monitoring the situation and through the Commission Delegation in China, has offered aid to the Chinese authorities.
'In the immediate aftermath of this devastating earthquake in China, the Community Civil Projection Mechanism was ready to act. No country should have to face such suffering on its own, and we are doing all that we can to help people deal with the consequences of the emergency,' commented EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, also responsible for civil protection.
According to the latest estimates, the 7.8 magnitude earthquake (on the Richter scale) has killed at least 50,000 and caused considerable damage in eight municipalities and provinces in South-West China. (A.N.)