European Union extends over Rs.74mn humanitarian funding to Sri Lanka

• Funds to help over 80,000 poor families across 25 districts
• Assistance will include multi-purpose cash grants for first aid, medical supplies and school packs for children
• Priority will be given to pregnant women, children and people with disabilities
• Ambassador Chaibi says EU is working towards minimising impact deteriorating economy will have on people

Sri Lanka will receive over Rs.74 million funding from the European Union (EU) to help ease the pressures currently felt by the citizens, that have been brought about by the economic crisis.

The EU announced yesterday it would provide 200,000 euros in humanitarian funding for essential assistance to 80,000 poor families across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka.

The EU funding will support the affected families with multi-purpose cash grants that will help with first aid, medical supplies and school packs for children. 

Priority will be given to the most in need such as pregnant women, children, people with disabilities, women-headed households and people who have become vulnerable due to this crisis.

“This relief assistance is crucial for the most vulnerable people in the country. By addressing the current needs now, the EU is trying to minimise the impact that the deteriorating economy will continue to have on people’s lives,” said Ambassador Denis Chaibi in a tweet on the official Twitter handle of the EU in Sri Lanka.

The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The current political and economic crisis has resulted in shortages of essential commodities, including medicines and has reduced the ability of thousands of families to cater to their basic needs. Many children have also seen their education disrupted, due to power cuts and lack of stationery items.

The EU together with its member states is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the EU helps over 120 million victims of conflicts and disasters every year. 

 For more information, please visit the ECHO’s website.
The European Commission has signed a three-million-euro humanitarian contribution agreement with the IFRC to support the DREF. Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to small-scale disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The DREF 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. The contribution agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of three million euros.