The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), decided Thursday to provide an additional 40.5 million euros (56.7 million U.S. dollars) in humanitarian aid to Myanmar, hard hit by Cyclone Nargis earlier this year.
22 million euros (30.8 million dollars) has been allocated to meet the continuing needs of cyclone-hit communities in and around the Irrawaddy delta and 18.5 million euros (25.9 million dollars) is being provided for a 2009 program targeting other highly vulnerable populations inside Myanmar, as well Myanmar's refugees in Thailand, the Commission said.
Around 2 million people are expected to benefit directly from the new aid, it added.
European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said Thursday that the EU has "progressively developed a very good cooperation with the authorities on humanitarian access in the Irrawaddy Delta in the wake of the Cyclone Nargis."
The EU has also promised to continue advocating for similar cooperation and access to other parts of the country, he said.
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar worsened in 2008 because of the devastating impact of Cyclone Nargis, and large increases in rice and fuel prices.
Cyclone Nargis, which killed an estimated 140,000 people and affected 2.4 million others, severely disrupted key economic activities including farming and fishing. Significant humanitarian needs remain.
The European Commission said that its support will focus on the most vulnerable groups such as wage laborers, landless farmers and fishermen living in remote areas. Help will be provided for livelihood recovery, food aid and short-term food security assistance as well shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare and nutrition.
Earlier this year, the Commission provided an emergency fund of17 million euros (23.8 million dollars) to Myanmar in the wake of the cyclone.
The Commission has been funding relief programs in Myanmar since 1994. In October 2005, a European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) office opened in Yangon to facilitate the delivery of European humanitarian aid.
Source:Xinhua
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