September 3rd, 2015 -- The European Union's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) is providing EC$913,000 (300,000 euro) in emergency humanitarian funding to Dominica, following the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Erika. The emergency aid provided by the EU is to assist those most affected and will be distributed through the United Kingdom's Department for International Development and the Pan American Health Organisation.
"This is just the first phase of the EU's response that is intended to take care of emergency needs such as restoring access to essential health services and medical care capacity; providing safe drinking water; ensuring proper hygiene, sanitation and waste management in affected communities; as well as implementing crucial disease prevention," said Ambassador Mikael Barfod Head of the EU Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
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As is normally the case in such disasters, the EU is participating in the needs assessment to determine additional funding for the post emergency phase of Dominica's recovery, that would include repair and reconstruction. The EU is also examining how it could convert existing funds allocated to Dominica to address the recovery needs. In 2014, the EU had already allocated EC$12 million (4 million euro) towards the development of the renewable energy sector in the country.
Since the disaster occurred the EU Ambassador in Barbados and his team have been in close contact with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and other officials of the Government of Dominica. "Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the devastation brought by Erika. We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the families of victims and our solidarity with the Commonwealth of Dominica in this difficult hour," said Ambassador Barfod.
The EU will remain in close contact also with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), one of the CARICOM agencies which it finances, so as to continue to assess Dominica's needs and to ensure there are no gaps in the national and international actions to support the stricken communities.
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