By Xinhua
Brussels : The European Union (EU) Thursday pledged humanitarian support, which could include 4 million euros ($5.5 million) in financial aid, to South Asian countries devastated by one of the worst monsoon flooding in the region’s history.
The Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) of EU’s executive arm the European Commission “is now preparing a funding decision in the region of four million euros to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable communities affected by the floods in South Asia,” said the Commission.
India, Bangladesh and Nepal have been hit by some of the worst monsoon flooding, and in the past week some 30 million people have been affected, mostly women and children, according to a recent United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) assessment.
Ongoing relief operations in South Asia have been hampered by difficulties in reaching remote communities and villages, as most are accessible only by boat or through airdrops.
Thousands of homes, schools and hospitals have been either damaged or destroyed, as have roads and vital infrastructure.
Water sources in affected areas are either contaminated or still submerged and people are relying on drinking dirty surface water to meet their basic needs, said Unicef.
ECHO has sent four field experts to work in the states of Assam, Bihar and West Bengal and Bangladesh, all severely affected by the floods.
Another field expert will also fly to Nepal Friday.
“I deeply regret the loss of so many lives and the misery caused by these floods to so many people all over South Asia. Let me express my sincere sympathy to the families of the victims,” said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy.
“I can assure you that we will stand by you and assist you in getting through this very difficult time,” she said.
However, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, expressed concern that “the crisis might worsen even as the flood recedes.
“We are seriously worried about the threat to public health posed by stagnant water and the pollution of drinking water sources. And many people’s homes have also been damaged or swept away altogether,” he said.