UN humanitarian chief lauds PH relief efforts for ‘Yolanda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines – United Nations Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos commended the government for its relief efforts under “extremely challenging circumstance,” following the massive destruction brought by supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) last week.

Amos, the emergency relief coordinator and UN under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said “I commend the Philippines Government for their relief efforts so far, under extremely challenging circumstances, and hope the international community will give generously to the humanitarian response.”

Amos issued the statement amid criticisms that there were no or not enough relief goods and that relief efforts were disorganized.

Amos, who arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, assured in a statement that the UN and its partner agencies would continue supporting the government and the Filipino people “in any way required –now and in the longer-term.”

On Wednesday, Amos will visit Tacloban City, one of the areas severely affected by the supertyphoon, to meet emergency workers on the ground as well as the survivors of Yolanda.

“Millions of families have had their lives torn apart by Typhoon Haiyan. They have lost everything and desperately need help now. I am concerned that there are thousands of people who need help that we have not been able to reach. The scale of the destruction is shocking. We must make every effort to reach people,” she said.

As part of her itinerary, Amos is set to meet President Benigno Aquino III, government officials and representatives of the humanitarian community in the country.

She participated in the launch of the $301 million humanitarian response plan to cover immediate life-saving humanitarian needs for the millions of people who have been left devastated by the disaster.

The National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday 2,275 dead with 3,665 injured and 80 missing.

United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, centre, speaks to survivors at the airport in Tacloban, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 in Tacloban city, Leyte province, central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, slammed into 6 central Philippine islands on Friday leaving a wide swath of destruction and thousands of people dead. AP

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