Posted November 11, 2013 11:23:45
Nations around the world have pledged aid and assistance to the Philippines in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.
The weakened system has made landfall in Vietnam as the massive clean-up and relief continues in the Philippines, where at least 10,000 people are feared dead in one province alone.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on Saturday that the Australian Government will provide an initial $390,500 in emergency relief supplies to assist Philippine communities.
The supplies include sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and water containers.
"Australia, as a close friend of the Philippines, is saddened by the loss of life and damage to homes and property in the wake of this tragedy," Ms Bishop said.
The head of the Australian Red Cross, Robert Tickner, says the coalition Government’s cut to Australia's foreign aid budget will not impact on its response to the current disaster.
"It's a different issue, a different order of magnitude. It's a crisis response and the Australian Government has a long history of responding positively in times like this and I'm sure they will," he said.
Mr Tickner says the typhoon has caused incredible devastation and the Red Cross is working hard to provide relief to those affected by the storm.
"The Philippines Red Cross is one of the most organised and most community-connected of the Red Cross societies around the world," he said.
"They are fully operational, deeply engaged in this relief effort and they'll be supported by the whole of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation."
Mr Tickner says people can donate to his organisation's efforts to assist those affected by the typhoon by visiting the Red Cross website.
"I've certainly got all our Australian Red Cross key people in contact with the Philippines, working with the international relief effort and there's no doubt that this is going to need outside assistance," he said.
"This is a mega, super typhoon and 10,000 people already appear to have lost their lives."
Countries and organisations around the world - including the US, the UN and the EU - have scrambled to offer aid to the Philippines as the devastation wreaked by the typhoon became clearer.
US military help is on its way, after the Pentagon said defence secretary Chuck Hagel responded to a request from Manila for assistance.
It included search-and-rescue ships and transport aircraft deployed from the United States' Pacific deployments.
UN leader Ban Ki-moon promised UN humanitarian agencies would "respond rapidly to help people in need".
UN children's fund UNICEF said a cargo plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid including shelters and medicine would arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday, to be followed by deliveries of water purification and sanitation equipment.
The European Commission said it would give more than $4.2 million to help in relief efforts.
Britain offered another emergency support package worth more than $10 million, while Germany's embassy in Manila said an initial shipment of 23 tonnes of aid was being flown in and German rescue teams were already at work.
Pope Francis, "deeply saddened" by the disaster, on Sunday urged Catholics to provide "concrete help" and led 60,000 people in prayers for the Philippines.
"Sadly, there are many, many victims and the damage is huge," he said.
ABC/AFP
Topics: storm-disaster, disasters-and-accidents, charities-and-community-organisations, charities, community-and-society, cyclones, cyclone, philippines, vietnam, australia
Nations around the world have pledged aid and assistance to the Philippines in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.
The weakened system has made landfall in Vietnam as the massive clean-up and relief continues in the Philippines, where at least 10,000 people are feared dead in one province alone.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on Saturday that the Australian Government will provide an initial $390,500 in emergency relief supplies to assist Philippine communities.
The supplies include sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and water containers.
"Australia, as a close friend of the Philippines, is saddened by the loss of life and damage to homes and property in the wake of this tragedy," Ms Bishop said.
The head of the Australian Red Cross, Robert Tickner, says the coalition Government’s cut to Australia's foreign aid budget will not impact on its response to the current disaster.
"It's a different issue, a different order of magnitude. It's a crisis response and the Australian Government has a long history of responding positively in times like this and I'm sure they will," he said.
Mr Tickner says the typhoon has caused incredible devastation and the Red Cross is working hard to provide relief to those affected by the storm.
"The Philippines Red Cross is one of the most organised and most community-connected of the Red Cross societies around the world," he said.
"They are fully operational, deeply engaged in this relief effort and they'll be supported by the whole of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation."
Mr Tickner says people can donate to his organisation's efforts to assist those affected by the typhoon by visiting the Red Cross website.
"I've certainly got all our Australian Red Cross key people in contact with the Philippines, working with the international relief effort and there's no doubt that this is going to need outside assistance," he said.
"This is a mega, super typhoon and 10,000 people already appear to have lost their lives."
Countries and organisations around the world - including the US, the UN and the EU - have scrambled to offer aid to the Philippines as the devastation wreaked by the typhoon became clearer.
US military help is on its way, after the Pentagon said defence secretary Chuck Hagel responded to a request from Manila for assistance.
It included search-and-rescue ships and transport aircraft deployed from the United States' Pacific deployments.
UN leader Ban Ki-moon promised UN humanitarian agencies would "respond rapidly to help people in need".
UN children's fund UNICEF said a cargo plane carrying 60 tonnes of aid including shelters and medicine would arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday, to be followed by deliveries of water purification and sanitation equipment.
The European Commission said it would give more than $4.2 million to help in relief efforts.
Britain offered another emergency support package worth more than $10 million, while Germany's embassy in Manila said an initial shipment of 23 tonnes of aid was being flown in and German rescue teams were already at work.
Pope Francis, "deeply saddened" by the disaster, on Sunday urged Catholics to provide "concrete help" and led 60,000 people in prayers for the Philippines.
"Sadly, there are many, many victims and the damage is huge," he said.
ABC/AFP
Topics: storm-disaster, disasters-and-accidents, charities-and-community-organisations, charities, community-and-society, cyclones, cyclone, philippines, vietnam, australia