FOREIGN AID | International community pours aid to Odette-hit areas

December 21, 2021 , 04:30 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(December 21, 2021) – Several countries have offered financial and material aid to the Philippines, after Typhoon Odette struck the nation’s belly, leaving hundreds dead and causing widespread destruction in Visayas, northern Mindanao, and Palawan.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said Canada is sending financial assistance, which would address the immediate needs of affected residents such as water and sanitation through the Red Cross.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll continue to help those who need it most,” Trudeau said on Twitter. “My heart goes out to the people of the Philippines, whose lives have been forever changed by last week’s super typhoon.”

My heart goes out to the people of the Philippines, whose lives have been forever changed by last week’s super typhoon. Canadians are sending our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones – and we’ll keep everyone affected in our thoughts during this challenging time. https://t.co/5fBinpODZX

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 21, 2021

The Chinese Embassy also announced it will send 20,000 food packages worth P8 million, which will be sent in parts of the country with the help of the local Filipino-Chinese community, said the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian. Beijing also sent 4.7 million kilograms of rice donated by the government to different ports.

“China will do its utmost to continue its firm support to the disaster relief efforts of the Philippine government and the Filipino people,” Huang said in a statement. “We wish all those affected could overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes at an early date.”

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will also provide emergency shelter assistance to 3,000 families in coordination with the International Organization for Migration in the Philippines, the U.S. Embassy said on Monday.

The agency’s partners are also helping the Philippine government to transport relief supplies to affected areas.

For its part, the United Kingdom committed £750,000 (P49.5 million) to the Philippine Red Cross, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to provide assistance over the disaster, the British Minister of State for Asia Amanda Miling said.

Spoke to Philippine Ambassador Lagdameo today to express the UK’s heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the devastation caused by Typhoon #OdettePH. UK has committed £750,000 to @philredcross, through the @ifrc, to help support those in desperate need of assistance. ????

— Amanda Milling (@amandamilling) December 20, 2021

Typhoon Odette, also known by its international name Rai, unleashed destructive winds and torrential rains in its path last week, claiming 156 lives and causing millions of pesos of damages to infrastructure and agricultural areas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

But the national police said 375 people had died in landslides, floods and fallen trees, collapsed structures and flying debris, like galvanized iron roofs.

President Rodrigo Duterte has said the country is running low on calamity funds, a claim that has been disputed by some lawmakers although he vowed to raise P10 billion for rehabilitation and recovery efforts in affected areas, his spokesman Karlo Nograles said.

(MM)

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