European Union steps up humanitarian aid in response to typhoon Kalmaegi in Vietnam with additional €200,000

Following the impact of typhoon Kalmaegi in Vietnam, the European Union has released additional €200 000 in emergency humanitarian aid. This comes on top of the €650,000 already released last month in response to earlier tropical cyclones that increased the impact of the monsoon rains and caused severe flooding. 

Furthermore, in October the EU activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service to produce satellite-based emergency maps, in order to support the delivery and coordination of the humanitarian response.

In the past, the EU has already provided humanitarian aid in response to earlier disasters in the country. Last year, in the aftermath of the deadly cyclone Yagi, the EU provided €800,000 in humanitarian aid to help the impacted population in Vietnam. 

Vietnam also activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to request in-kind assistance. Through this mechanism the EU facilitates a coordinated joint response, allowing the authorities of the affected country to communicate through a single point of contact. The requests by Vietnam are relayed to the EU Member States and other participating States.

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.