Australia gives P10M emergency aid to Philippines

Children at Delpan evacuation center in Tondo, Manila at the height of the Typhoon Glenda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–Australia announced Thursday that it will provide A$250,000 (P10 million) worth of aid to victims of Typhoon “Glenda” (international name Rammasun) which tore through Luzon Wednesday.

“Australia is a close friend and partner of the Philippines, and our thoughts and sympathy go out to those affected by the typhoon,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell said in a statement.

“While the full scale of the disaster is still unknown, we understand that over 75,000 families have been displaced from their homes, and more than 450,000 affected by the typhoon,” he said.

Emergency supplies will be given to the Australian government’s partner organizations, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Tweddell said.

“The assistance includes family survival kits containing sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and emergency shelters delivered to over 1,400 families in Albay and Camarines Sur through the Philippines Red Cross,” Tweddell said.

“Through UNFPA, health and dignity kits will also be distributed for 2,000 women in the Bicol region,” he said.

Australia is one of the Philippines’ largest partners in disaster response and management. Since 2006, it has contributed A$108.12 million (P4 billion) in humanitarian assistance.

For Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), which hit the country last November, Australia provided A$77.3 million (P3.1 billion) for response and recovery needs.

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