Australia boosts ‘Yolanda’ aid to US$18.7M

Philippine soldiers stand near relief supplies for victims of Typhoon Haiyan at Villamor Airbase, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO

SYDNEY, Australia – Australia pledged Thursday a further Aus$20 million (US$18.7 million) for relief efforts in the battered Philippines and said it will deploy extra defense staff to help deal with the disaster.

The funding hike takes Australia’s contribution to Aus$30 million in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated parts of the country, destroying life, property and infrastructure.

“As a good friend and neighbor, Australia stands beside the Philippines as it deals with this humanitarian disaster,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s office said in a statement.

The additional money will be used to address serious nutrition, child health and protection needs, purchase emergency food and provide logistic support.

Two Australian aircraft are already in the Philippines, arriving on Wednesday evening to transport doctors, paramedics and medical equipment from Cebu to worst-hit Tacloban.

The statement said another C-130 Hercules transport aircraft would leave soon, with a fourth plane on standby, while the amphibious landing vessel HMAS Tobruk was being diverted to the Philippines.

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