European Commission has released €3million to address immediate humanitarian needs in Indonesia after the earthquake that struck close to Padang. More than 700 people are dead and there are thousands of missing people.

After the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck close to the city of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province in Indonesia, another powerful earthquake hit Sumatra early this morning. The death toll, which is expected to rise significantly in the coming hours, has already reached 700. The European Commission is, thus, providing €3 million.

The European Commission is providing €3 million in a fast-track decision to bring relief to earthquake victims in Indonesia, and to meet initial humanitarian needs. A rapid response team from the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) office of Djakarta has been sent to Padang to assess needs.

The annual report 2009 on development aid and assistance implemented in 2008 confirmed that the European Union was the world's largest donor of development aid, with nearly 60% of world aid.