August 9, 2007
EU Pledges Over $5 mn Aid
to Asia's Flood Victims
Brussels
The European Union (EU) Thursday pledged humanitarian support, which
could include 4 million euros ($5.5 million) in financial aid, to
South Asian countries devastated by one of the worst monsoon
flooding in the region's history.
The Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) of EU's executive arm the
European Commission "is now preparing a funding decision in the
region of four million euros to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable
communities affected by the floods in South Asia," said the
Commission.
India, Bangladesh and Nepal have been hit by some of the worst
monsoon flooding, and in the past week some 30 million people have
been affected, mostly women and children, according to a recent
United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) assessment.
Ongoing relief operations in South Asia have been hampered by
difficulties in reaching remote communities and villages, as most
are accessible only by boat or through airdrops.
Thousands of homes, schools and hospitals have been either damaged
or destroyed, as have roads and vital infrastructure.
Water sources in affected areas are either contaminated or still
submerged and people are relying on drinking dirty surface water to
meet their basic needs, said Unicef.
ECHO has sent four field experts to work in the states of Assam,
Bihar and West Bengal and Bangladesh, all severely affected by the
floods.
Another field expert will also fly to Nepal Friday.
"I deeply regret the loss of so many lives and the misery caused by
these floods to so many people all over South Asia. Let me express
my sincere sympathy to the families of the victims," said Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy.
"I can assure you that we will stand by you and assist you in
getting through this very difficult time," she said.
However, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis
Michel, expressed concern that "the crisis might worsen even as the
flood recedes.
"We are seriously worried about the threat to public health posed by
stagnant water and the pollution of drinking water sources. And many
people's homes have also been damaged or swept away altogether," he
said.
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