Speed-up, scale-up support for PH, says UN Secretary General

MANILA, Philippines – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is working double-time to help raise funds for the rehabilitation of typhoon-hit areas in the Philippines.

Ban admitted that they have raised only 30 percent of their target $791 million for the UN’s strategic response plan for communities devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda.

“Our appeal for $791 million has been funded around 30 percent as of now. That is why I am appealing to the international community to speed-up and scale-up their support,” he said during a press conference at The Peninsula Manila on Sunday.

Ban said he met with the ambassadors of key donor countries on Sunday morning to discuss his recent visit to Tacloban City.

“I urged the donor countries to provide their generous support to the Philippines and [to the] United Nations appeal,” he said.

On Saturday, the UN Secretary General visited Tacloban City, among the worst hit areas of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), to see first-hand the destruction wrought by what is said to be the world’s strongest typhoon this year.

He said there is an immediate need for food, water, sanitation and other basic necessities in areas hit by the typhoon.

“I was deeply moved and also inspired by my visit to Tacloban. People are working hard to recover. We must not allow this to be another forgotten crisis,” he added.

On the other hand, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario thanked Ban for the relentless support of the UN and its partners.

“The United Nations has been steadfast in its support for the Filipino people in the devastated areas, as demonstrated by the very quick response of the UN and Humanitarian Country Teams in the immediate aftermath of the typhoon and the UN Flash Appeal,” he said.

Rosario said the “flash appeal” was later transformed into a Strategic Response Plan which will supplement the governments’ relief and recovery efforts for the next twelve months.