19 November 2013 – Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Sahid S. Glang reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that upon the instructions of Bahrain’s leaders His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, the Bahrain government officially conveyed to the Philippine Embassy its offer to send humanitarian assistance to the Philippines soonest to aid in the relief and rehabilitation efforts of the Philippine government for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the badly hit areas.
In meetings held separately with Bahrain Justice Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Health Minister Sadiq Abdulkarim Al Shehabi, and officials of the Bahrain Red Crescent Society, he Embassy informed the Bahraini officials of ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts for the typhoon victims, the relief items urgently needed by the survivors, and the procedures and requirements for shipment of humanitarian aid to the Philippines.
Based on information provided by the Embassy, and obtained from its own contacts at the Philippine Red Cross, Bahrain will send up to 90 tons of relief items to the Philippines consisting of the following: 4,000 food parcels; 2,216 personal hygiene packs; 20,000 blankets; 500 tents; 100 power generators; 20,000 towels; 20,000 pillows; 1,000 bttles of water; 2,00 water containers; and 1,000 pieces of mats. Bahrain targets to send the relief assistance by next week or as soon as practicable. Bahrain also pledged to set up a health center in the affaected area as soon as the urgent needs of the survivors have been addressed.
Ambassador Glang thanked the Bahrain government for its exprtessions of sympathy and condolences, its pledge of humanitarian assistance, and the Bahraini people’s deep sense of concern for and solidarity with the Filipino nation at this very difficult time. Justice Minister Al Khalifa said that “Filipinos in Bahrain are a part of us, and that Bahrain is ready and willing to provide assistance to the Philippines. Health Minister Al Shehabi also remarked that the “Philippines is a nation that everybody loves’ and that Bahrain wishes to show its support and concern for the Filipino people through such gesture of assistance.
Ambassador Glang was accompanied during the meetings by Consul General Raquel R. Solano and Protocool Officer Mr. Sayrads Macalawi. END
