BRUSSELS: The European Commission announced here Friday a 10 million
euro emergency aid to the victims of the monsoon floods in Pakistan.
The EU’s executive body said in a statement that the aid is provided
solely on the guarantee of full independence, unlimited and full access
to the areas and people in need, and the possibility of independently
assessing, controlling and monitoring any project being funded.
The
disaster has already killed more than 200 people, and over 280,000
others have been registered in some 2,000 camps established to
accommodate the internally displaced. "Like last year, the torrential
rains have caused massive floods. I had seen then, and I fear now
catastrophic consequences for the people, for their homes and crops. So
our help is needed again and we will answer the call of the afflicted,"
said Kristalina Georgieva, the EU Commissioner for International
Cooperation, and Humanitarian Aid .
Pakistan government sources
have put the number of people affected to date at 5 million, mostly in
the 22 out of 23 districts of Sindh. Over 1.2 million houses and 1.6
million acres of cropland are badly damaged. The Pakistani government
has called for the support of the European Union and the United Nations
in the fast evolving emergency, noted the statement. Online
