EU allocates P7.83-M aid to ‘Usman’ victims

FILE: WRATH OF ‘USMAN’. Aerial photo showing extensive damage to roadways brought about by landslides due to heavy downpours caused by Tropical Depression (TD) ‘Usman’ last December 29, 2018 in Sagñay, Camarines Sur. (Rey Baniquet/Presidential Photo via PNA)

MANILA — The European Union (EU) has allocated EUR130,000 or approximately PHP7.83 million aid for victims of the flash floods and landslides triggered by Tropical Depression Usman in December 2018.

According to the EU delegation in Manila, the humanitarian funding will directly benefit 15,000 people in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur, the areas most affected by the storm’s devastation in the Bicol region.

The aid will support the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in delivering immediate assistance through the distribution of emergency relief items such as tarpaulins, blankets, sleep mats, hygiene kits, and access to clean water.

First aid services are now being provided while hygiene promotion activities are carried out to mitigate the spread of waterborne diseases amongst the impacted communities.

Meanwhile, cash grants will be distributed to 4,500 people identified as most vulnerable to enable them to establish livelihood and start anew.

The delegation said the funding is part of EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“Usman” made landfall in Eastern Samar on Dec. 29, triggering days of incessant rainfalls and deadly landslides that resulted in dozens of deaths and billions of peso-worth damages to agriculture and infrastructure.

As of Jan. 10, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recorded 140 deaths, 28 missing, and 105 injured persons in Regions 4-B, 5, and 8.

On the other hand, about 9,025 individuals of the 689,647 people affected by the storm are still being served inside evacuation centers.