The European Union (EU) has announced it will provide €2.35 million in financial aid to Sri Lanka. This amount includes €500,000 through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and €1.85 million allocated via DG-European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF. This support is in response to the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Ditwah, as stated by the President’s Media Division (PMD). Additionally, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which consists of 37 member states including all 27 EU countries as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine, is also sending assistance to Sri Lanka. On Wednesday, December 17, two air cargo flights from Germany, France, and Luxembourg delivered an aid shipment to Colombo. This shipment contained 83 tonnes of relief supplies, including family tents, mattresses, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, beds, and water filters. These items are meant for communities hardest hit by the cyclone. The arrival of this aid was celebrated by EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka Carmen Moreno, French Ambassador Rémi Lambert, and Sarah Hasselbarth, the Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy. The donations were officially received on behalf of the Sri Lankan government by Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director General for Europe & North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chathura Liyanarachchi, Director of the Disaster Management Center (DMC). Italy has also sent a team of structural engineers to assist with disaster assessment and recovery efforts in Sri Lanka, according to the PMD. Moreover, the EU has activated its Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) in rapid mapping mode and has produced about 30 maps so far. The European Union has pledged its ongoing cooperation and support for Sri Lanka’s recovery and rebuilding efforts, reinforcing the strong partnership and lasting friendship between Sri Lanka and the EU.
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