EU releases over P85 million for typhoon relief as Philippines reels from devastation
MANILA, Philippines — The European Union has released over €1.25 million or around P85 million in humanitarian aid to support communities devastated by tropical cyclones "Tino" (international name: Kalmaegi) and "Uwan" (international name: Fung-Wong), disasters that have left hundreds dead, millions displaced and widespread damage across several regions.
The EU said the funding will help deliver emergency assistance to families who lost their homes or remain displaced, including communities in Cebu still recovering from a recent earthquake that compounded the impact of the two typhoons.
Of the total amount, €250,000 or P17 million will be channeled through the Philippine Red Cross to provide shelter materials, sleeping kits, household essentials and cash aid for basic needs. Healthcare, water and sanitation support are also part of the package.
The funds form part of the EU’s contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The bloc added that its partners have activated existing EU-funded disaster preparedness and anticipatory action programs to deliver cash assistance and first-response support on the ground.
This newest tranche brings the EU’s total humanitarian and disaster-preparedness aid to the Philippines this year to €8.5 million or P578.6 million.
Earlier support included €1.3 million or P88.5 million released after tropical cyclones in July and late September, and €1.2 million or P85 million for communities affected by earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.
Aftermath of typhoons
The recent tropical cyclones, Tino and Uwan, have caused significant casualties and widespread damage in the Philippines.
Typhoon Tino has caused 232 confirmed deaths, with 112 still missing and more than 500 injured across Cebu, Negros, Agusan del Sur and nearby provinces. The disaster displaced over 370,000 people, many of whom remain in evacuation centers or with relatives due to damaged or destroyed homes.
Meanwhile, Super Typhoon Uwan has resulted in at least 27 deaths, left two people missing and injured dozens more. It displaced about 4.2 million residents across Luzon, with nearly 1.4 million individuals still sheltering in more than 11,000 evacuation centers nationwide.
Agricultural losses from the two typhoons have reached an estimated P743.83 million. Tino alone caused P555.56 million in damage, severely affecting rice fields and other crops across multiple regions.
Uwan contributed around P188.27 million in losses, impacting thousands of farmers and large areas of farmland in Luzon and beyond.
These disasters have strained response and recovery operations, particularly in Cebu, where communities are simultaneously dealing with the aftermath of a recent earthquake.
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