MANILA, Philippines – Neighboring countries have conveyed their sympathies to the Philippines amid the continuing relief and recovery efforts in quake-hit Visayas, a deadly disaster that has affected some 3.4 million people.
Malaysia’s World Children Welfare Fund, an organization led by the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, donated 100,000 Malaysian ringgit or some P1.4 million for children affected by the 7.2-magnitude temblor that caused significant damage in Bohol and Cebu.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said the prime minister’s spouse, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, turned over the donation to Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya in ceremonies on Friday.
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“This timely and generous gesture of solidarity is deeply appreciated. It is a soothing balm to the hardship felt by many children. It is true that tragedies bring pain and loss, but often, it brings people closer together,” Malaya said in a statement on Saturday.
The World Children Welfare Fund is an organization that has been providing assistance to children caught in conflicts and natural disasters around the world.
Malaysia’s volunteer relief organization Mercy Malaysia is also sending a five-member team to Cebu and Bohol on Monday to assist in emergency operations, with two more teams expected to soon follow, the Embassy said.
Najib had earlier condoled with the country, saying through his Twitter account: “We join the people of the Philippines in mourning those killed in the earthquake last Tuesday.”
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also sent a letter of condolences to President Benigno Aquino III on Friday, expressing the Singaporean people’s “deepest condolences” as the death and damage toll continued to rise in the Visayas.
“Natural disasters such as these remind us of our common humanity. I am confident that, under your leadership, your people will overcome this tragedy with fortitude and rebuild the affected areas. Our thoughts are with you and your people during this difficult time,” Lee said.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe also expressed solidarity with the Philippines on behalf of the Japanese people and government.
“We, as a strategic partner of the Philippines, continue to stand in solidarity with your Government and people at this very difficult time and pray for a swift and steady recovery,” Urabe said in a letter to Aquino dated October 17.