More foreign aid, sympathy coming in

MANILA, Philippines - More foreign aid for flood victims was committed yesterday, with the latest coming from the Australian government, which promised to provide P55 million.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, meanwhile, expressed sadness over the disaster, while Japan and the United Kingdom also relayed their condolences to the victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”

Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said, “I extend my condolences to the families of those killed in this tragedy and for the significant destruction caused by Sendong.”

“The scale of destruction has taken everyone by surprise. Australia stands ready to help Filipino families affected by this disaster get back on their feet,” Smith declared in a statement.

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba sent a message to Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario expressing his deepest condolences to the bereaved and his best wishes for the speedy alleviation of the suffering of the affected people as well as for the full rehabilitation of areas damaged by the calamity.

Gemba said Japan will do its share in helping the victims and the affected areas.

UK Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said the loss of life caused by flooding in the Philippines is tragic.

“I visited the Philippines earlier this month and know how keenly this loss will be felt by all its people,” Browne said.

The Chinese embassy in Manila earlier donated P440,000 for the disaster relief efforts of the Philippine government.

AusAID has a strong partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

Australia funds kits of non-food items such as sleeping mats, mosquito nets, hygiene kits and cooking items that are pre-positioned with the PRC in strategic locations around the country. Up to 5,000 kits valued at P12.6 million are now being distributed to displaced families.

“These pre-positioned kits enable the Philippine Red Cross to immediately respond to the needs of families affected by natural disasters. These kits are being distributed to families in evacuation centers, particularly around Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities” Smith said.

Australia is also providing an additional P42 million to help the Philippine government procure essential medicine to treat the injured, provide temporary shelter for the displaced, and extend livelihood support to families who have lost their incomes.

“Australia strives to be responsive to our friends in the aftermath of disasters. We have a strong focus on Mindanao and the worst affected provinces (Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur) are all key partners of the Australian aid program,” Smith said.

“We have built strong relationships with the people of these provinces in recent years. This support highlights our commitment to these provincial partnerships,” Smith said.

Australia is the top grant donor to the Philippines, providing P5.5 billion in aid in 2011-2012.