As the first anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan), the strongest cyclone ever recorded, was commemorated on November 8, the European Union (EU) and its Member States continue their joint assistance to the rehabilitation of the communities in the affected areas.
The EU’s relief efforts continue to be carried out through partner organizations such as the World Food Program, the International Federation of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Action Contre la Faim, Save the Children, CARE, Merlin, Plan International, Oxfam, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Organization for Migration.
As Yolanda marked its first anniversary, the EU acknowledges that despite the apocalyptic damage caused by the super typhoon, the transition from emergency to rehabilitation was quick, thanks to strength and unbroken resilience shown by the people of the Philippines, as well as the combined efforts by aid agencies, donors, the concerned governments, including civil protection authorities, NGOs and budgetary authorities.
This enormous damage caused by Yolanda at the same time showed the high vulnerability of the Philippines to the climate change.
Preventing dangerous climate change is a strategic priority for the EU and its Member States in order to combat the major risks it presents to global prosperity, security and equity. As a demonstration of the leadership and ambition that the EU and its Member States have exhibited on this issue, in October 2014 agreement was reached on a package of measures referred to as the EU 2030 package. Through this world-leading package, the EU as a block will commit to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent domestically by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
With the vulnerability of the Philippines and the benefits for all that an ambitious climate change deal in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris 2015 can deliver, the EU and its Member States offer their assistance to the Philippines, looking forward to working together with the Philippines in the months ahead on the joint constructive and ambitious contribution to the success of the Paris conference.