MANILA – The European Union (EU) announced that it is providing 100,000 Euros or approximately Php 6 million as new humanitarian funding to assist families most affected by Typhoon Egay, which struck the Philippines in July.
“This aid is in addition to the €500,000 (approximately 30.3 million PHP) in humanitarian funding which was provided on 29 July to support those initially affected by typhoon Doksuri, and brings the total EU response to the typhoon to over €600,000,” the EU said.
In a press statement, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines said that the additional funding will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering much needed relief assistance, including provision of medical and first aid services, clean water supplies and hygiene items, as well as food and shelter.
“The €100,000 in humanitarian aid will directly benefit approximately 36,300 people who have been heavily affected in the worst hit areas. The funding is part of the EU's contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),” the statement added.
Typhoon Doksuri, locally known as Egay, made landfalls in the Philippines on 26 July 2023, damaging and posing significant threat to lives, homes and livelihoods. Due to the rapid intensification of Egay into a super typhoon category with winds of 185 km/h or more led to widespread destruction, heavy rains, flooding, landslides and loss of life in heavily affected areas. This is the fifth typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) shows that 2.4 million people have been affected, with 57,281 individuals displaced and seeking shelter, and 763 active evacuation centers.
Further data shows that the official death toll is at 26 while there were reported additional incidents of flooding and landslides in heavily hit areas, as well as power outages, disrupted access to affected areas and certain regions still left impassable due to debris and landslides.
Established in 1985, the Disaster Response Emergency Fund is supported by contributions from donors and each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF.
“For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million,” the statement said.
