THE European Union (EU) has allocated €27.325 million to support risk reductions due to natural calamities in disaster-prone countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Central America.

The European Commission’s (EC) humanitarian aid department allocated €10 million for Southeast Asia, as it identified the Philippines, as among the most disaster-prone countries in the region frequently hit by earthquakes, floods, cyclones and typhoons. Other countries in the region to benefit from the grant include Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Timor Leste and Vietnam.

EC Commissioner Louis Michel of the humanitarian aid department said the allocation underlines the commitment to improve the capacities of communities at risk from natural disaster in line with he Hyogo Framework of Action for 2005-2015.

“Every year the commission provides humanitarian assistance following natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones and typhoons,” Michel said.

“Considering the current trends in climate change-related natural disasters, helping the disaster-prone communities to be better prepared for disasters is essential to saving lives.”

At the same time, the German government also allocated €25,000 in disaster relief for the victims of the recent floods in Eastern Samar.

The Federal Foreign Office of Germany is responding to a request from the province for water disinfectants, rice and basic pharmaceuticals to 32 flooded barangays in Oras, Eastern Samar, in March. The assistance helped provide for the immediate needs of some 4,000 families.

EU has also allocated €10 million to Central America, to assist in disaster-risk reduction in countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

An amount of €7.325 million will be allocated to South Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for similar programs.

Michel in a statement said the allocated funds seek to target the most vulnerable local communities and those at greatest risk from natural hazards and with the lowest coping capacities.

EU aims to save lives and protect livelihoods if disaster strikes in granting the funds, said Michel.

“These three regions are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as, earthquakes, hurricanes-cyclones, tropical storms, floods and landslides, drought and volcano eruptions. The losses and destruction that result from such disasters are very significant from a social and economic point of view and reduce the development potential of the three regions, indirectly slowing down the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,” said Michel.

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ZAMBOANGA CITY—Marines on combat patrol killed a suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit in a predawn clash in the hinterlands of Sulu, where offensive continues against the remaining bandit leaders and their armed followers.

THE European Union (EU) has allocated €27.325 million to support risk reductions due to natural calamities in disaster-prone countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Central America.

INSTEAD of using government funds for unnecessary foreign travels and throwing lavish receptions for foreign dignitaries, the House leadership said it would divert funds for that purpose to social services and infrastructures.

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