Bridgetown, Barbados - The European Union is providing 200,000 euros (BBD$542,500; EC$727,000) to restore health and sanitary conditions in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the aftermath of hurricane Tomas.

The contribution which is being provided by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office (ECHO) is 45% of total eligible costs of 450,000 euros (BBD$1.2M; EC$1.6M) and will be managed by the Pan American Health Organisation.

The assistance will go towards such interventions as ensuring safe water supply in health facilities, shelters and vulnerable households; safe waste disposal, vector control activities and the reestablishment of health coverage.

Representatives from the Delegation of the European Commission to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean will travel to both St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines later this week to assess the current situation and determine if further EU emergency aid is necessary.

The European Union has contributed 12.5 million euros to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF). The CCRIF will provide US$3.2 million to St. Lucia, US$8.5 million to Barbados and US$1.1 million to St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a result of damage sustained during the passage of Tomas.

In addition the EU's Disaster Preparedness Programme, which commenced operations in the Caribbean in 1998, has programmed 21 million euros towards disaster preparedness programmes with the help of NGOs, the Red Cross, UN agencies and other regional partners. The EU also contributes significantly to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).