European Union to provide P63 million in aid for Rolly victims

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union has announced a rapid emergency humanitarian aid of €1.3 million or roughly P63 million for families affected by Typhoon Rolly that devastated many parts of Luzon.

Janez Lenar?i?, EU commissioner for crisis management, said the EU contribution will support the Filipino people through EU’s humanitarian partners on the ground who are providing critical support to those hit hardest by the strongest typhoon this year.

“It will not only cover the immediate needs of the most affected populations, but will also help the Filipino people restore their homes and livelihoods so they can get back on their feet as soon as possible. The EU stands in solidarity with those affected in the Philippines,” Lenar?i? said.

Typhoon Rolly affected more than two million people mostly in Luzon, including Metro Manila. It also forced the evacuation of 500,000 people as heavy rains and strong wind devastated communities and claimed lives.

The funding is part of the EU’s Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT).

Rolly was the world’s strongest typhoon this year and the most devastating since Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. It made landfall early morning Sunday in Catanduanes.

Initial assessments showed that up to 90 percent of homes in the capital Virac were destroyed.

EU said it has sent a humanitarian aid expert to affected areas to further assess the situation.

EU taps ALERT for responding to large natural disasters where over 100,000 people or over half of the population are affected. Depending on the type of disaster, the aim is to allocate funds within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of the emergency.

The United Kingdom also announced it is preparing £1 million for people affected by Rolly in the Philippines and Vietnam.

For the Philippines, the fund will help provide food, clean water and shelter to affected individuals. Victims of extreme flooding will be the fund’s beneficiaries in Vietnam.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister for Asia Nigel Adams announced the coming UK aid.

He said the £1 million aid will go to the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), through the British Red Cross Society, and to local Red Cross partners and help to provide shelter, clean water, food and support livelihoods for around 160,000 people in Vietnam and 80,000 in the Philippines.

Four typhoons affected over 1.3 million people and submerged 300,000 houses in central Vietnam.

Britain is also monitoring the situation in neighboring Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

“The typhoons that have hit the Philippines and Vietnam have had a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods across the region,” Adams said.

“Today’s £1 million UK aid package will help to deliver life-saving food, clean water and safe shelter to those who need it most and help both the Philippines and Vietnam recover from such destructive natural disasters,” he said. – Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero