EU gives 10 mln euros in aid to flood-hit Thailand region

THAILAND: This combo of handouts from NASA received on October 22, 2011 shows images from space of the Bangkok metropolitan area (lower C) taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on November 12, 2008 (image L) and the same area on October 19, 2011 illustrating the flood surge north of the city, with water spanning more than 75 kilometers (45 miles) in places. Thailand on October 22, 2011 battled to control floods in parts of the capital Bangkok and head off a looming humanitarian disaster by draining an unstoppable mass of water through the citys canals. AFP PHOTO/NASA

October 22, 2011
BRUSSELS (AFP) - Europe is to send 10 million euros (13.8 million dollars) to help the hundreds of thousands of victims of the massive flooding in and around Thailand, the European Commission announced Friday.

The money will go towards helping people hit by the flooding in five countries in southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand itself, said the statement.

"In a region which is ever-prone to natural disasters, this year's monsoon season has been particularly fierce, causing loss of life, damage to infrastructure and property and destroying livelihoods," aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said.

Heavy rains since July have already killed more than 600 people and according to Commission figures, and affected around 7.4 million people.

In Thailand alone, the worst flooding in decades has killed nearly 350 people and disrupted the lives of millions of people, mainly in the north and centre of the country.