MANILA, Philippines – The European Union is allocating €2.5 million (Php 148 million) in humanitarian assistance to some of the 350,000 people who lost their homes and livelihoods during the powerful earthquake that shook the island of Bohol and surrounding provinces last Oct. 15.
The funding is being made available through the EU's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO).
"We have seen the destruction and suffering caused by the powerful earthquake", EU ambassador Guy Ledoux explained. “We stand by the people of the Philippines in this hour of need and this EU assistance reaffirms our commitment to immediately respond to the needs of the families affected by the disaster."
The funding will be used to deliver emergency relief in the sectors of shelter, water and sanitation, primary health care and the management of evacuations sites.
Ambassador Ledoux said that two humanitarian aid experts (Mr Torben Bruhn, regional health coordinator of ECHO based in Bangkok and Ms Arlynn Aquino, humanitarian aid officer in the Philippines) trooped to the municipalities of Calape, Maribojoc and Loon in Bohol from Oct. 17-18 to assess the priority needs of the affected population. During their visit, the experts noted that most of the houses collapsed and access to services was difficult. Primary health care and potable water supply was also limited because water pipes were broken.