The European Commission has decided to contribute 5.5 million euros (Rs660.7 million) in humanitarian aid to victims of last year’s devastating earthquake in Nepal, the European Union said in a statement on Wednesday.

The funds will be used both to respond to humanitarian needs, particularly as regards to shelter, as well as to enhance disaster preparedness capacities of the most vulnerable communities in quake-affected areas. The aid is expected to benefit close to 290,000 people across nine hardest-hit districts by the disaster.

 “As we continue to address the humanitarian needs that remain one year after the earthquake, it is of paramount importance to ensure that the country is also better equipped to cope with recurring natural hazards,” said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides in the statement.

“This contribution will not only provide the most affected people with better shelters that will keep them safe

and dry during the forthcoming monsoon and winter seasons, but will also strengthen the resilience of communities in dealing with future natural disasters.”

Over one year after the powerful April 2015 earthquake, humanitarian needs, particularly for shelter, remain immense, the EU said in the statement adding that across the affected areas, millions of people are still living in poorly constructed temporary shelters that were built in a hurry in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.

The new funds, to be channelled through the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department, will allow the Commission’s partners to implement humanitarian projects to address the situation of quake victims.

The latest allocation brings the European Commission’s total humanitarian aid

contribution in response to the earthquakes to 19.5

million euros.