ILIGAN CITY–The Russian government has turned over P69 million worth of aid intended for Marawi City’s internally displaced persons (IDP’s) of Marawi crisis, including those affected by two recent typhoons.
Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Anatolyevich led the turn-over ceremony here Monday of assorted goods consisting of 2,000 bags of rice, 2,460 bags of sugar, 208,035 cans of milk, 130,815 cans of canned meat, and 2,955 pieces of processed softwood.
The donated goods arrived here in three batches early this month.
“We fully support the Philippines especially Marawi city in their struggle against terrorism,” said Ambassador Anatolyevich, who was accompanied by Igor Veselov, of the Department of Internal Activity of the Ministry of Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters.
“We are ready to extend our help and partnership for the development of your country,” Veselov told local and national officials, led by Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Assistant Secretary Felix Castro Jr., Atty. Khanini Gadambra, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Ernesto C. Abella, and Iligan City Mayor Celso G. Regencia.
Lusviminda Ilagan, undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who accepted the Russian aid in behalf of the government, expressed her gratitude to the Russian government.
“We welcome the Russian Federation’s support to our efforts to respond to the needs of the IDP’s of various disaster, especially those affected by Marawi Crisis,” Ilagan said.
She added: “The assistance will be very important to so many who have lost their homes and sources of livelihood due to the five-month armed conflict.”
Ilagan said that the Russian assistance would also benefit those displaced by the recent tropical storms that hit Lanao provinces. (Irma Boza/PNA)
