Key messages
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The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, with several earthquakes and around 20 tropical cyclones per year among other natural calamities.
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Following the Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013, the European Commission immediately deployed humanitarian and civil protection experts to the worst hit areas. It also made available € 40 million in relief assistance and early recovery and reconstruction to help the most affected communities.
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The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated to coordinate the delivery of assistance offered to the Philippine government by the EU Member States, who provided considerable personnel and material support in addition to financial assistance of well over € 135 million.
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Since 1997, the European Commission has released € 72.7 million in emergency relief interventions for survivors of natural disasters and € 21.3 million to help victims of armed conflicts.
Furthermore, € 7.7 million have been allocated for local communities to better withstand future disasters (DIPECHO programme).