The European Union has released €800,000 (over ₱54 million) in humanitarian aid to help communities in the Philippines recover from recent tropical cyclones and floods that have battered large parts of the country in recent weeks.
The new assistance will support emergency relief operations in the hardest-hit areas—many of which are also grappling with long-running local conflicts—focusing on shelter, health services, and water and sanitation needs, according to the media release of the EU Delegation in the Philippines.
This latest aid package comes on top of €6.5 million (₱441.84 million) in humanitarian and disaster preparedness funding the EU has already committed to the Philippines this year. That includes €500,000 (₱34 million) released earlier in response to cyclones that struck in July.
The EU is also monitoring the situation in Cebu, which was hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30, leaving casualties and widespread damage.
“Our deepest sympathy and condolences for the victims who perished in the earthquake in Cebu. The EU stands in solidarity,” said EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro.
According to the European Commission, the funds will be channeled through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) department, which manages EU emergency responses around the world.
With headquarters in Brussels and a network of field offices across the globe, ECHO provides aid to millions of people affected by conflicts and disasters every year, prioritizing the most vulnerable based on humanitarian need.