EC approves extra aid for Philippine war victims

The European Commission (EC) said it had approved a further 200 million pesos (4.14 million dollars) to help tens of thousands displaced by a Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines.

The European Commission (EC) said on Thursday it had approved a further 200 million pesos (4.14 million dollars) to help tens of thousands displaced by a Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines.

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The humanitarian aid, on top of 17.3 million dollars provided since fighting broke out between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the military in August, will cover food, water, sanitation and health care, the EC said.

It was unclear how aid delivery would be affected after the UN announced this week it was halting food missions on the southern island of Mindanao after a wave of bombings since Sunday left at least eight dead and over 100 injured.

“We don’t have any feedback yet on how this will affect us,” said Robert Leon, a spokesman for the EC in the Philippines.