In response to the ever increasing scale of the humanitarian crisis, the Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, announced that the Commission will mobilise an additional urgent relief assistance.

This latest €30 million EU funding will bring the total humanitarian aid funds allocated by the Commission to assist the flood-affected populations to €70 million. On 23rd August, Commissioner Georgieva will travel to the affected area in Pakistan and will meet with authorities and relief experts, as well as with people affected by the floods.

Since 31st July, the European Commission has provided €40 million in humanitarian aid for the flood victims in Pakistan. In the last twelve months, the Commission has provided a total of €111.25 million in humanitarian aid for people in need in Pakistan, not including current announced request.

The humanitarian aid of the Comission and civil protection department (ECHO) has a support office in Islamabad. ECHO experts closely follow the developments in the humanitarian situation and monitor the use of the Commission's relief funds.

EU Civil Protection action

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on 6th August. The Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) within ECHO is in touch with the 31 countries participating in the Mechanism, of whom several are providing in-kind assistance to Pakistan. A MIC liaison officer is in the ECHO office in Islamabad to facilitate the coordination of EU civil protection assistance and to liaise with the UN system.

Besides, a special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the humanitarian emergency in Pakistan has been opened.