The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a EUR 500 000 donation to REVITA fund, as part of the EIB response to the devastating forest fires that hit central Portugal on 17 June 2017 killing more than 60 people and injuring many more. The funds will be used for the reconstruction of destroyed homes to support the Portuguese people after the massive fires.

Francisco de Paula Coelho, Dean of the EIB Institute, said: “Today’s announcement underlines the EIB’s commitment to supporting the victims of humanitarian catastrophes. The EIB group renews its deepest condolences to all those that lost family members or friends in this terrible tragedy and its sincere appreciation to all the firefighters that put their lives at stake to protect others.”

Immediately after the fires, the EIB Group, in an effort coordinated by the EIB Institute, raised money among its staff, which was topped up by the Bank itself. These EIB funds will be donated to the REVITA fund recently created by the Portuguese authorities to help the local population and revitalise the impacted area.

The EIB Group has in the recent past contributed to relief efforts for other humanitarian disasters including Hurricane Matthew in Haiti in October 2016 and the flooding and mudslides in Peru and Colombia in 2017.

Image Credit: Paulo Cunha – LUSA