The Hong Kong government has approved two grants totalling HK$5.43 million to an aid agency to provide relief to flood victims in Myanmar and India, announced a government spokesperson on Tuesday.
HK$2.43 million and HK$3 million will be granted to aid agency World Vision Hong Kong in aid of Myanmar and India respectively. The decision was made on the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee.
World Vision Hong Kong would be required to submit reports on the use of the grants after relief projects have been carried out to ensure that funds were properly used. The aid will help those affected by floods in both countries.
Myanmar and India were among half a dozen countries in Asia affected by monsoon rains in July and August, which caused severe flooding in parts of the region.
The floods in Myanmar, which were some of the worst in decades, have affected nearly one million people, reported BBC. Several countries, including Australia and Japan, have pledged emergency relief assistance.
In India, around 10 million people have also been affected by the floods and heavy rains, CNN reported.
Although the Myanmar government has been accused of responding slowly, it did not shun outside aid as the then-military government had done in 2008 after Cyclone Nargis killed 130,000 people.
