Ban Ki-Moon to have first-hand assessment of ‘Yolanda’ devastation

UN leader Ban Ki-moon. AP PHOTO/THE UNITED NATIONS, MARK GARTEN

MANILA, Philippines — United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is set to visit the Philippines Friday and will also go to Tacloban City to see first-hand the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan).

“The Philippine Government welcomes the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon this weekend,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text message Friday.

“DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario will meet the UN Secretary General at the airport upon his arrival at 10pm Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” Hernandez said.

Ban Ki-Moon will meet with President Benigno Aquino III and then travel to the areas devastated by Yolanda in Tacloban on Saturday.

He will then have a joint press conference with del Rosario on Sunday morning at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

“UN has been an important partner of the Philippines from day one of the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in mounting an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian response to the affected people,” Hernandez said.

“The Secretary-General’s visit marks the continuing cooperation between the Philippine Government and the UN, especially at this time when we begin the recovery and reconstruction,” he said.

United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this week visited the country and Tacloban City to see the rehabilitation efforts of the government.