EU sends €3m emergency aid package to Haiti

The European Union is sending an initial emergency aid package to Haiti worth €3m following talks in Brussels led by new foreign affairs supremo Cathy Ashton.

After convening an “emergency co-ordination meeting” with the Commissioners responsible for humanitarian aid and civil protection, Baroness Ashton, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and a commission vice-president, said: “We are troubled by the reports on the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

“We are still gathering information to understand the impact on the population. My colleagues in the commission and I offer our full assistance to Haiti and will mobilise all available instruments to support the population of Haiti in this difficult time. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

Meanwhile the commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) is providing the €3m to international relief groups to help meet the cost of shelter and medical support.

An ECHO relief expert based in the Dominican Republic is expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince later today to carry out a first needs assessment.

In Brussels, ECHO staff and officials in the commission’s Monitoring and Information Centre are “in the process of assessing the situation and the needs in order to ensure the best possible EU co-ordinated response to provide relief funding and assistance,” said a statement.

Working with the United Nations, EU priority will be given to contributing to search and rescue teams, water purification and the provision of field hospitals.

An assessment and co-ordination team is also being assembled that will travel on site as soon as possible.