The international community has joined the relief drive for typhoon victims in the Philippines.
The United Nations (UN) launched a humanitarian needs and priorities plan to aid more than 300,000 affected individuals during Typhoon “Rolly”.
The UN plans to gather almost $50 million or Php 2 billion in response to the needs of the affected municipalities in Catanduanes and Albay.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Gustavo Galvez stated that “seeing the devastating effects of the typhoon, we express our deep concern for the thousands of families affected by this disaster.”
He added that the UN and humanitarian partners in the Philippines “are mobilizing all our resources to ensure that we leave no one behind at this time of great need.”
Moreover, the Australian Embassy has contributed Php 50 million worth of assistance from shelter kits to educational kits since Typhoon “Rolly” while the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management has started to distribute almost $900,000 or Php 43 million worth of pre-positioned relief items such as shelter repair kits and kitchen sets.
In addition to this, the US Agency for International Development has donated Php 9.7 million to Albay and Catanduanes. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada have also responded to the needs of typhoon victims of the country.
Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay has appealed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to seek more donations from the international community.
The DFA has no official call for assistance yet. The National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) assured that the received donations are adequate until the end of the year. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
