UK boosts response to Philippines typhoon
Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged another P280 million of assistance bringing the total amount pledged to relief efforts in the Philippines to P1 billion.
British Prime Minister David Cameron. (Photo credit: DFID - UK Department for International Development)
At a speech in London on 11 November, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced further UK assistance to the Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts.
The Prime Minister has pledged another 280 million pesos of assistance bringing the total amount pledged to Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) and other ongoing relief efforts in the Philippines to approximately 1 billion pesos (over £14 million).
To help the rapid disbursement of this assistance, the Prime Minister has also directed the Royal Navy and Royal Air force to make available to the relief efforts a navy warship and a Boeing C-17 freighter. The Royal Navy has a warship, HMS Daring, in Singapore and it will make straight for the Philippines. In consultation and cooperation with the Philippine government and international partners HMS Daring and her crew would be able to provide humanitarian assistance, helicopter lift from one on-board Lynx and engineering and first-aid expertise. The Type 45 destroyer also carries equipment to make drinking water from seawater. The first C-17 flight could take place in the next few days.
The additional support announced by the Prime Minister will provide:
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Aid flights from the UK to Cebu in the eastern Philippines to deliver forklift trucks, cutting equipment, 4x4s and other kit to help clear and re-open runways and roads;
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The delivery of life-saving supplies through Rapid Response Facility partner agencies such as temporary shelters, blankets and water purification tablets to 300,000 people; and
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Household goods to allow the safe treatment and storage of water and to help prevent the spread of disease. These includes buckets, water purification tablets, soap and sanitary items.
British Ambassador Asif Ahmad said:
We stand by the Filipino people during this very difficult time. Last night our Prime Minister David Cameron announced an additional contribution which can help provide 800,000 people the food, water and shelter they urgently need. We are proud to be just one part of what is becoming a truly international response in support of the Philippine government and the people of the Philippines.
Further Information
The UK’s contribution in response to Typhoon Yolanda is now £10 million. An additional assistance of about £4.1 million was provided earlier this year for ongoing humanitarian efforts in the Philippines including disaster preparedness and response. This brings total UK aid to humanitarian efforts in the Philippines to over £14 million.