EU gives P33 million in aid for flood victims in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union has announced over P33 million (€500,000) in emergency humanitarian aid to help flood victims in the Philippines, where almost 200,000 people remain displaced after three tropical cyclones battered Luzon in late July. 

The funding will provide cash assistance for food and basic necessities, along with access to clean water and sanitation facilities, according to the EU delegation in Manila in a statement on Monday, August 4.

It "will help address the most pressing needs of people in the hardest hit areas of Calabarzon and Central Luzon, notably communities in hard-to-reach areas," it added.

The emergency allocation adds to the €6 million the EU has already provided to the Philippines this year for humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness programs.

Nearly 200,000 displaced. Three tropical cyclones (Crising, Dante and Emong) struck the Philippines within ten days in July. Combined with heavy monsoon rains, the simultaneous weather disturbances triggered flash floods in Metro Manila and several parts of Luzon.

The disasters left more than 73,000 damaged houses in their wake, according to the NDRRMC's latest situational report on Monday. Meanwhile, the latest reported death toll has climbed to 40.

Over a week after the storms passed through the Philippine area of responsibility, at least 90,000 persons are still inside evacuation centers, according to NDRRMC's latest report. They make up nearly half of the total 199,158 persons who were displaced by the storms.