14 November 2013 - President Joachim Gauck visited the Philippine Embassy in Berlin on November 12 to personally express his sympathies to Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad and condolences for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). President Gauck also signed the condolence book in the presence of Embassy officials.
President Gauck said he was “very concerned” about the dire consequences of the typhoon in the Philippines. He assured the Ambassador that Germany will stand at the side of the Philippines during the difficult period ahead even as he expressed his hope that “there will be a mass solidarity around the world to help the Philippines in this time of need.”
The President’s visit closely followed the phone call between Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Benigno S. Aquino III which took place earlier in the day.
The Federal Foreign Office (FFO) has also announced on November 12 that the German Government is making a further one (1) million euros in emergency humanitarian aid available for dealing with the effects of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Germany had previously made available 500,000 euros in emergency aid onNovember 10.
Federal Foreign Minister, Dr. Guido Westerwelle, who visited the Philippines in February of this year, also made the following statement today at the margins of the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi after discussions with Undersecretary Evan P. Garcia:
“We want to help and stand by the many people who have been injured and made homeless in the areas destroyed by the typhoon. The German Government is therefore making funds available which German relief organisations will use for their work helping the victims on the ground.”
Germany is among the first countries that immediately responded to the emergency situation in the Philippines by sending humanitarian aid and rescue and relief teams. The Philippines and Germany have long-standing bilateral diplomatic relations which will mark its 60th year in 2014. END