The Commission has allocated over €56 million in humanitarian aid this year to support people in need in Asia and in the Pacific. The funding will help people affected by the main ongoing humanitarian crises in the region and will strengthen disaster preparedness in an area prone to natural hazards.
The announcement comes on the occasion of the EU-Indo Pacific Ministerial Forum and the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, which are being held in Brussels today. Both meetings will offer an opportunity to discuss cooperation in areas of common interest, including disaster management and emergency response.
The largest allocations are for Bangladesh (€26.5 million) and Myanmar (€19.2 million). The funding will address the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, as well as the needs of the almost 1 million Rohingya refugees who continue to live in Bangladesh. Another €2 million will respond to the wider refugee crisis in the region, mostly stemming from the violence in Myanmar, which is causing displacement to neighbouring countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
€2.6 million will be allocated to the Philippines, to respond to the protracted crisis in the Mindanao region, where communities continue to suffer the impact of armed violence combined with disasters induced by natural hazards.
€4 million is dedicated to strengthening disaster preparedness in Nepal, which is exposed to multiple natural hazards, some of which are increasingly frequent due to climate change. This funding will help reinforce local preparedness and capacity for response. An additional €1.7 million will support disaster preparedness efforts in other parts of the region.
Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “Several countries in Asia and the Pacific continue to face emergency situations and other pressing challenges. Conflict in Myanmar continues to increase humanitarian needs, while Rohingya refugees remain in precarious conditions in Bangladesh after more than 6 years living in refugee camps. Also, the people affected by the Mindanao crisis must not be forgotten, while the whole region remains exposed to increasing natural hazards. The EU thus remains committed to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable populations in the Asia-Pacific region. With this new €56 million will help our partners on the ground provide life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable, while also strengthening local capacity to respond to disasters.”
Background
The Asia and Pacific region face a complex mix of conflict and environmental challenges.
In Myanmar, conflict intensified last year, increasing displacement, food insecurity and the vulnerability of the population. Meanwhile in Bangladesh, conditions in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar are worsening, with little prospect for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Myanmar.
People fleeing violence continue to undertake dangerous sea and land crossings, often facing extreme conditions and risk of sex and labour trafficking. In the case of the Philippines, continuing violence in the Mindanao region, together with nature-induced disasters, have increased hunger and malnutrition.
The whole region remains vulnerable to natural hazards and is affected by environmental degradation and climate risks, which often exacerbate social and economic vulnerabilities. The return of El Niño is expected to further compound existing vulnerabilities.
