EU provides over €2.35m in humanitarian assistance
The EU has allocated a total of €2.35 million of financial assistance to Sri Lanka.
This includes €500,000 from the IFRC and €1.85 million from DG European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) partners, WFP, and UNICEF, as humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka in response to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah.
In addition to the above allocation, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which brings together 37 participating States, all 27 EU member States, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, is providing in-kind assistance to Sri Lanka.
As part of the UCPM in-kind assistance, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Sri Lanka received an aid shipment, with two air cargo flights arriving in Colombo from Germany, France, and Luxembourg.
This aid shipment included 83 tonnes of relief items, including family tents, mattresses, hygiene and kitchen kits, beds, and water filters. The supplies are intended for distribution among communities most affected by the cyclone.
The arrival of the assistance was welcomed by the EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Carmen Moreno, the French Ambassador, Rémi Lambert, and the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, Sarah Hasselbarth. On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, the donations were received by Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director General/Europe & North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, and Chathura Liyanarachchi, Director, Disaster Management Center.
Italy has also provided a team of structural engineers to support Sri Lanka’s disaster assessment and recovery process.
Furthermore, the EU has activated its Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) in rapid mapping mode, with approximately 30 maps produced to date.
The EU has committed to continued cooperation and support for Sri Lanka’s disaster recovery and rebuilding, reaffirming the enduring friendship and strong partnership between Sri Lanka and the EU.