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Faced with the earthquake on the island of Lombok, the EU mobilizes satellites and diplomats

(B2) Europeans are mobilizing in the face of the earthquakes which hit the island of Lombok, in Indonesia, at the end of July and beginning of August, both to come to the aid of European citizens detained on the island.

Consular assistance

A group, made up of diplomats from the European Union delegation and the main embassies concerned (Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom), has been set up to help European citizens located on the island. Around 1000 European citizens were thus able to obtain information, on the availability of flights, assistance with booking flights and access to waiting lists, even assistance for injured persons says the European Commission.

Satellite aid

The European Union has mobilized its emergency satellite mapping system Copernicus to assist the Indonesian civil protection authorities. The first cards could thus be delivered.

Financial aid

Finally, the Commission released initial emergency aid of 150.000 euros to the most affected communities. The aid will benefit the 4.000 people in the most affected districts of Lombok East and Lombok North, via the Indonesian Red Cross. It will provide vital aid to the most vulnerable by distributing shelter materials and relief items such as tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, family kits and hygiene items. The assistance also ensures access to drinking water, hygiene services, basic health care, as well as psychological support for affected families.

(NGV/ES)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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