The European Union this week has pledged to spend €1.05 million (roughly Php 60 million) in humanitarian aid funding to deliver emergency relief assistance to families affected by typhoon “Ulysses” (international name: Vamco).
“The EU is scaling up its humanitarian assistance in the Philippines in response to the devastating typhoons that have hit the country over the past month,” said Arlynn Aquino, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian response in the Philippines.
“The additional contribution will help to get much-needed aid to the most vulnerable people to help them go through this difficult time,” said added.
“Ulysses” hit the country last week while it was still struggling to cope with the devastating impact of powerful typhoon “Rolly (Goni),” which struck in early November.
The disasters have so far affected more than three million people, with about 440,000 forced to flee their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.
Aquino said the EU funding will support humanitarian aid partners who are already on the ground to respond to the immediate needs of those most in need.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier placed the entire main island of Luzon under a “state of calamity” due to widespread damage brought by the typhoons.
Authorities have reported at least 73 people died due to typhoon “Ulysses” while damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the province of Cagayan Valley were reported to have been worth several billion pesos.
The weather bureau warned that one more storm might enter the Philippine area of responsibility before the month ends.
The recent typhoons that hit the country caused massive flooding that damaged both property and infrastructure mostly in the northern part of the country.
Environmental activists have called for a “national climate emergency” to determine what the government should prioritize to protect Filipinos from the ill effects of the climate crisis.
Greenpeace Philippines said the government must not only focus on responding to and preparing for calamities but must strengthen policies to mitigate the climate crisis and its impacts.
