EU supports Southeast Asia in coping with natural disaster

Bago city of Myanmar is flooded after heavy rains on July 28 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 

Brussels (VNA) – The European Commission has committed 6 million EUR for initiatives helping Southeast Asian countries cope with natural disasters as the region is facing monsoon season and its potentially devastating effects.

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said the EU believes in empowering communities to be better prepared in the face of natural disasters, and especially the most vulnerable, who are often the ones bearing the hardest brunt.

He noted that the assistance will strengthen the disaster preparedness initiatives already in place across the region, while improving the livelihoods and resilience of those most affected.

Out of the funding, which was announced on August 1, 2 million EUR will go to Myanmar to help the country build up the national response system against earthquakes and tsunamis, and to pilot disaster risk reduction and resilience-building initiatives in urban contexts.

Nepal will receive 2 million EUR to build capacity and resilience of most vulnerable communities in earthquake affected areas.

The Philippines will get 1 million EUR to carry out disaster risk reduction and resilience building initiatives with focus on urban poor population, while the remaining 1 million EUR will go to multi-country initiatives to strengthen response capacities at the regional level across Southeast Asia, including in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.-VNA