The European Union (EU) on 13 September 2023 announced that it will provide an emergency humanitarian assistance of euro 100,000 (nearly 90 lakh Indian rupees) to flood hit families of Himachal Pradesh and Utttrakhand .
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand saw severe flooding and landslides due to torrential rains in August 2023. The torrential rains caused widespread damage in these states affecting more than 1.5 lakh people . The European Union assistance is expected to benefit 40,000 people in the state of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The European Union will provide the fund to the Indian Red Cross Society which is a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
It will be used to deliver emergency shelter and household items, including tarpaulins, kitchen sets, woollen blankets, and hygiene kits. Health and hygiene awareness campaigns will also be carried out to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
The European Union is signatory to a €10 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to small-scale disasters .
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President of the European Commission : Ursula von der Leyen
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