EU donates 200m/- funds to Kagera earthquake victims

DAILY NEWS Reporter

IN response to the devastating earthquake that hit Kagera Region in North West Tanzania on 10 September 2016, the European Union is providing €100 000 in humanitarian funds to assist the most affected families.

According to a statement issued by the EU in Tanzania, the funds will support the Tanzanian Red Cross in delivering much needed relief assistance, including tarpaulins for shelter, mosquito nets to reduce the risks of mosquito bites to the affected population, first aid kits as well as psychosocial assistance.

The aid will also directly benefit about 5,000 people who had their homes destroyed by the earthquake. In its wake, the 5.9 magnitude earthquake affected 117,000 people, leaving 20 people dead and more than 400 injured. 2,500 houses were completely destroyed while 14,500 others suffered serious damage.

“The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),” reads the statement. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world.

It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. The European Commission through its Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) helps over 120 million victims of conflicts and disasters every year.

The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors