Brussels - The European Union is giving 700,000 euros (890,000 dollars) in aid to help provide drinking water, blankets and medicines to some 50,000 people affected by recent floods in Pacific islands, officials in Brussels said Monday.

The decision acts on an EU fact-finding mission to the region, which identified the region's most urgent needs.

These include the provision of clean drinking water, fixing sewerage systems and medicines designed to treat and prevent outbreaks of diarrhoea, respiratory infection, malaria and dengue fever.

The funds are managed by the aid department of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.

At least 11 people have died and 10,000 have been displaced in Fiji alone as a result of coastal floods that have affected several islands since December.

Floods have also occurred in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. (dpa)