EU Commission earmarks further aid for earthquake victims
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—The European Union Commission has earmarked a further
Euro 10 million for the victims of the South Asian earthquake following on from its initial allocation of ( 3.6 million.
The funds will cover the most urgent needs of including food, drinking water, shelter and medical aid. The support is being channeled through the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), which comes under ther responsibility of Louis Michel, the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
“I was so shocked by the scale of this latest natural disaster that I made sure that the European Commission could provide immediate assistance for the victims”, said Michel. Our partners in the filed are working flat out to meet the basic needs of those affected. It is a race against time. The Commission is concerned to ensure that the aid is delivered as a fast as possible, even to most isolated villages’
The first ( 3.6 million, allocated by the Commission on the day after the tragedy, responded to immediate humanitarian needs. Further evaluations have since been undertaken and the ( 10 million in new funding will target the following sectors: food, drinking water, shelters appropriate to the region’s harsh winter climate, medical materials/medicines, hygiene kits, kitchen utensils, warm clothing, blankets, shoes and psychological support for children. Further funding may be allocated in the future as detai8ls about the scale of the needs become clear.