The amount of money is equivalent to the previous aid package for the victims in the Philippines, which was hardest hit by the typhoon, and may increase to EUR4 million after the EC makes an assessment of the victims’ demands.

The EC also announced in a press release that the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) sent a rapid response team to Vietnam to inspect the storm-hit areas where at least 190,000 houses have been destroyed.  In the region, the storm left 312 people dead including 246 in the Philippines.

According to Cambodia’s Natural Calamities and Disaster Prevention Agency, storm Ketsana left at least 12 people dead and dozens injured in the country.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on September 30 that the country has been gathering information on the havoc caused by the storm in Vietnam and preparing to provide assistance to the country when required, according to ABC Communications.

Mr Stephen said Australia is ready to assist Vietnam as it has done in the Philippines.