EU Says Will Provide Over $220,000 In Aid To Victims Of Deadly Fani Cyclone In India

EU Says Will Provide Over $220,000 in Aid to Victims of Deadly Fani Cyclone in India

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2019) The European Union will allocate over 200,000 Euros ($224,000) to provide assistance to victims of powerful cyclone Fani that rocked the eastern Indian state of Odisha in early May, the European External Action Service said in a statement on Friday.

The cyclone hit Odisha on May 3, killing more than 60 people. According to the statement, over 2 millions of people were affected by Fani, as it destroyed thousands of houses and damaged local infrastructure. Experts have qualified Fani as one of the most devastating cyclones that India has seen over the past 20 years.

"In response to cyclone Fani, which wreaked havoc across large parts of India's eastern coast in early May, the European Union is allocating 15.

5 million INR (EUR 200 000) to provide emergency assistance to the most affected communities. The aid will directly benefit 25 000 people in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal," the statement said.

The statement noted that Odisha state would receive the major share of funds, as most affected by the cyclone.

The funds are expected to support the Indian Red Cross Society in providing aid to people affected by the disaster, particularly, it would be spent on emergency shelter material for those whose houses were destroyed, and epidemic prevention and control activities, according to the statement.