EU announces grant for disaster preparedness in SE Asia

"The European Commission has long recognized the importance of disaster preparedness and risk reduction. My own visits to the areas affected have let me see with my own eyes how the grassroots preparedness schemes we help to put in place can save lives and limit damage," said Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the EU Delegation in the Philippines.

"It is imperative that risk reduction, including adaptation to climate change, be made an integral part of sustainable development policies, and we are backing this work worldwide," he added.