‘We are all Filipinos’

MANILA, Philippines - The suffering in typhoon-devastated areas has been eased by an outpouring of assistance and support from the international community.

As of 3 p.m. Sunday, the following countries and organizations have given donations: Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany,Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vatican, Vietnam,United Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In Illinois, Gov.  Pat Quinn chipped in his personal $1,000 check on Friday to the donation drive for the survivors of Yolanda, saying, “We are all Filipinos!”

Quinn handed the check to Thelma Bascos, president of the Filipino-American Council of Greater Chicago.

The United States and Germany increased their assistance for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda yesterday as Japan decided to dispatch its second disaster relief medical team to the Philippines.

The US government is providing an additional $10 million (P430 million) in humanitarian aid for those affected by the typhoon, bringing to $37 million (P1.59 billion) the total US humanitarian aid to provinces in the Visayas devastated by the calamity.

Visiting United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s assistant administrator for the Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg said this new contribution will help restore clean water in and around Tacloban and will provide additional support for the massive logistics operation dispatching and distributing relief supplies to those in need.

In support of the Philippine government’s relief efforts, the US is providing airlift and logistics capacity, food aid, shelter materials, clean water, and hygiene education and supplies to help the estimated nine million people across 44 provinces affected by Yolanda.

Germany also announced yesterday its additional aid for Yolanda victims.

The German government gave 6.5 million euros (P380 million) while private donors gave 12.9 million euros (P754 million).

The alliance of German organizations engaged in disaster assistance (Aktionsbuendnis Katastrophenhilfe) said it has received 12.9 million euros (P754 million) in private donations for typhoon Yolanda victims.

According to the alliance composed of Caritas International, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, German Red Cross and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef)-Germany, the willingness of the German public to donate for the victims of Yolanda is remarkable.

Germany’s Relief Coalition Buendnis Aktion Deutschland Hilft, on the other hand, has over a dozen organizations currently in the affected areas conducting relief operations.

A medical team with 24 people from the International Search and Rescue Team-Germany has opened a field hospital in Palo, Leyte in cooperation with a team from Belgium.

The hospital can treat at least 100 people per day for infected wounds and broken bones. The mobile hospital can also conduct minor surgeries.

The Federal Agency for Technical Relief is setting up a water purification system in the city of Santa Fe in Bantayan, Cebu, providing drinking water for more than 30,000 people.

Meanwhile, the second Japan disaster relief medical team, which will depart for the Philippines tomorrow, will take over the duties of the first team earlier sent to help in medical relief activities in Tacloban City.

Japan has also provided $52.1 million worth of assistance to the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, also ordered a $10 million donation to relief and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Yolanda.

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago said he received a call from the Minister of Finance about the donation.

In Illinois, Quinn urged the people  “to donate to the Philippine Red Cross so many people would come out, the best of the best, and find a way to do so.”

He said Illinois will not only deliver food, medicine and other supplies.

With Quinn’s contribution, the total financial donations collected by a small group of six Filipino-Americans who launched the fund-raising drive now amounts to $11,000.

Humanitarian missions

The Korea Disaster Relief Team, composed of 44 medical and rescue personnel, arrived on Friday in Tacloban City to carry out humanitarian activities.

The medical team is stationed at St. Paul Hospital where 161 patients have been treated.

Two other C-130 aircraft arrived in Cebu on Saturday to help in relief efforts.

Clean water now available

Water supply has returned to normal in Tacloban and six surrounding districts after the first water treatment plant went back to full operating capacity Sunday night, the Unicef said yesterday.

Unicef said at least 200,000 people in Tacloban and neighboring areas are now receiving clean water for cooking and drinking.

The water treatment plant for Leyte earlier operated at one-fifth of its normal capacity, leaving survivors of the storm vulnerable to disease and sickness since the typhoon struck last Nov. 8.

Critical negotiations involving Unicef, the Philippine Armed Forces and USAID have resulted in an initial emergency supply of fuel from the Philippine military to run the plant for four days, with USAID pledging to maintain the supply of required fuel on an ongoing basis.

“It’s critical that we provide at least 15 liters of clean drinking water per day for each individual if we are to prevent diarrhea and other water-borne diseases,” said Unicef Philippines country representative Tomoo Hozumi. – With Rainier Allan Ronda, Joseph Lariosa