EU Commission allocates Euro 2 million+ for flood victims in Bihar and Nepal

http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/frontpage/29082008_en.htm

EU Commission allocates more than Euro 2 million in humanitarian aid for
>> flood victims in Bihar (India) and Nepal
>>
>>
>> Brussels
>>
>> The European Commission has moved quickly to provide relief funds for
>> victims of the floods in northern India and Nepal. A Euro 1 million
>> financing decision was launched last week to help Nepalese communities
>> affected by the flooding and an additional amount of more than Euro 1
>> million is being mobilised for food aid and other relief activities in
>> Bihar.
>>
>> A Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) team is on its way from New Delhi to
>> assess needs in Bihar with a view to providing possible additional
>> support.
>>
>> The floods follow the collapse of a river embankment on the Kosi River
>> which has now effectively changed course. Large swathes of Bihar state are
>> under water, and the situation is exacerbated by the fact that many of the
>> worst-hit communities have little experience of this kind of flood event.
>> Huge numbers of people have been displaced from their homes. In the
>> initial stages, the emphasis will be on meeting the basic needs of the
>> most vulnerable people for food, clean drinking water, shelter, essential
>> household items and sanitation.
>>
>> Relief funds managed by the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department are
>> channelled through its humanitarian partners: UN agencies, European relief
>> NGOs and the Red Cross/Crescent movement.