The European Commission (EC) has been active in providing emergency humanitarian assistance and in coordinating the work of EU Member States' search and rescue teams since the tragic earthquake in Bam, Iran on December 26.
Through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), the Commission allocated € 2.3 million on December 27 to address the most urgent humanitarian needs. The funds will be channeled through the Red Cross and a number of European non governmental agencies (NGOs).
The European Commission is currently examining further requests that have been received more recently and, based on the needs identified, additional funds will be mobilized as necessary. The EC supports UN efforts to co-ordinate international support for the disaster relief of the Iranian authorities. A team of ECHO experts has been dispatched to the disaster area where it will liaise with UN Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and the Red Cross.
ECHO is the European Union's Aid Office, a service of the European Commission under the direct responsibility of Commissioner Poul Nielson. It funds relief to victims of natural disasters and man-made crises outside the EU. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
