THE European Union (EU) is allocating about P3 million (50,000 euros) to assist over 7,500 people affected by the increased activity of Mayon Volcano in Albay.
The funding will be coursed through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to help the affected families in Albay, the EU Delegation in Manila said Wednesday night.
The allocated fund will be used to support the delivery of immediate needs of the residents such as emergency shelter items, sleeping kits, primary healthcare assistance and hygiene kits, as well as increase access to clean water supplies, and sanitation facilities.
According to EU, the support is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
“The European Union, together with its Member States, is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid,” the delegation said.
“Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need 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 human-made crises,” it added.
Mayon Volcano is under Alert Level 3.
Earlier, Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman sought assistance from the national government as he reported the province’s quick response fund is “about to be exhausted.”
According to the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, at least 9,776 families or 37,944 people in the Bicol Region are affected by Mayon’s unrest.
