UK allots P63-M aid for typhoon victims in PH, Vietnam

FILE: Great to hear Minister for Asia @nadams setting out support that the UK is providing to the Rohingya people during the Covid-19 pandemic in a Westminster Hall debate this morning.
On 22 October 2020 the UK co-hosted a donor conference announcing over $600 million in support. (Photo: Joy Morrissey MP @joymorrissey/Twitter)

MANILA – The United Kingdom earmarked 1 million pounds or around PHP62.9 million to assist the victims of recent typhoons in the Philippines and Vietnam.

“(The) £1 million UK aid package will help to deliver life-saving food, clean water and safe shelter to those who need it most and help both the Philippines and Vietnam recover from such destructive natural disasters,” UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Minister for Asia Nigel Adams said.

The aid will be through the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and local Red Cross partners, which shall provide shelter, clean water, food, and support livelihoods to around 160,000 people in Vietnam and 80,000 in the Philippines.

Adams said the IFRC has already launched separate “Emergency Appeals” for both countries to scale up the Red Cross response.

In the Philippines, the IFRC, along with the government and other partners, is currently assessing the damage caused by Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) and which locations are in most urgent need of assistance.

UK Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce hoped that the assistance would help the hard-hit areas and help affected families recover.

“It has been such a tragedy to see the devastating impact of ‘Rolly’ on so many people here in the Philippines. I hope the UK contribution to IFRC helps families and communities recover,” he said Wednesday.

The powerful Category 5 Typhoon Rolly struck the Philippines on Sunday and has resulted in the loss of life, with many people injured in the Bicol Region.

The latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management showed that about 532,794 families or over 2 million individuals were affected by the devastating typhoon, of which around 142,475 families are currently staying inside and outside evacuation centers.

The Council said 20 people were killed during the typhoon’s onslaught, 74 were injured, while three are still missing.