11 November 2013

Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and the personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would like to express our deepest condolences and sympathies to our kababayans who suffered and continue to suffer from the devastation wrought by super typhoon “Yolanda.”

The DFA has been in receipt of many messages of condolences and solidarity from the international community. Through its Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNIO), the DFA is also coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on offers of foreign assistance to the relief and rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-hit areas.

As of 3:40 p.m. today, we have monitored 22 countries, plus the European Union and Taiwan, that have offered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the victims of this natural disaster.

The offers of assistance are in the form of:

-       deployment of search-and-rescue teams and medical personnel;

-       provision of relief goods, such as food, water, tents, and blankets,among others;

-       provision of medical supplies and vaccine;

-       deployment of ships and aircrafts; and

-       cash donations

The countries that have made offers of assistance include:

1.    Australia – financial aid

2.    Belgium – medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

3.    Canada – financial aid; in-kind donations

4.    Denmark – financial aid

5.    Finland – in-kind donations

6.    Germany - in-kind donations, medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

7.    Hungary - medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

8.    Indonesia – in-kind donations

9.    Israel - medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

10. Japan - medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

11. Malaysia – medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel, supplies

12. The Netherlands – financial aid

13. New Zealand – financial aid

14. Norway – financial aid

15. Russia - medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

16. Singapore – financial aid

17. Spain – in-kind donations

18. Sweden – financial aid

19. Turkey – in-kind donations, medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

20. United Arab Emirates – financial aid

21. United Kingdom – financial aid

22. United States of America - financial aid, deployment of ships and aircrafts, medics/ rapid response team (RRT)/ search & rescue/personnel

The European Union, through the European Commission, has pledged financial aid, in-kind donations, and the deployment of medical and search & rescue teams while Taiwan has allocated financial assistance and various relief items.

The Philippines has also accepted the offer of the United Nations (UN) for the issuance of a flash appeal which will be launched soon. In this connection, the UN is now undertaking needs assessment activities in the affected areas.

Also pledging to aid in the relief and rehabilitation efforts are other international organizations, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Doctors without Borders and Oxfam.

Those who wish to help may course their donations through the NDRRMC, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Red Cross. END