PRINT

European Union brings relief to the victims of tropical storm Nalgae in the Philippines

01.12.2022 Press and information team of the Delegation to PHILIPPINES

In response to the severe tropical storm Nalgae, locally known as Paeng, which struck the Philippines in late October, the European Union is providing €200,000 (over 11 million Philippine pesos) in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected families. In response to the severe tropical storm Nalgae, locally known as Paeng, which struck the Philippines in late October, the European Union is providing €200,000 (over 11 million Philippine pesos) in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected families.

This EU funding will support the Philippine Red Cross in delivering much needed relief assistance, including the provision of medical and first aid services, mosquito nets, clean water supplies and hygiene items. Cash grants will also be distributed to the most vulnerable groups to enable them to meet their basic needs.

The humanitarian aid will directly benefit approximately 32,500 people who have been heavily affected in the worst hit areas. The funding is part of the EU's overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The storm made six landfalls in different areas across the Philippines on 29 November with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometres near its centre, leaving at least 150 people killed and more than four million others affected. The system also damaged over 28,000 houses and some 80,000 hectares of agricultural areas. A number of public facilities, including schools, health facilities, roads and seaports also sustained damage.

Background

The European Union and its Member States are the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the European Union provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

The European Union is signatory to a €3 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. 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.

 

For further information, please contact: