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| The US government, through USAID, is providing an additional P50 million ($1 million) to help communities affected by Typhoon Odette. Photo: US Embassy of the Philippines/PR |
MANILA - Through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the US government is contributing an additional P50 million ($1 million) to assist areas impacted by Typhoon Odette.
This additional financing comes on top of the original P10 million ($200,000) in the assistance offered by the US on December 22 to aid the Philippine government's relief efforts.
The funding will be used to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian workers and relief supplies to villages ravaged by Typhoon Odette.
USAID's new funding will help logistics and emergency telecommunications in typhoon-affected communities in conjunction with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The World Food Programme (WFP) will establish four emergency logistics hubs in Surigao del Norte to store and distribute relief goods.
WFP will also deliver food from the Philippine government to feed tens of thousands of Filipinos and assist in reestablishing telecommunications networks to support response efforts with assistance from the United States.
“The United States is pleased to provide this additional assistance to support the immediate needs of individuals and families in the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Odette,” said Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Heather Variava of the US Embassy in the Philippines. “This support will help ensure that food and other life-saving supplies reach communities most in need.”
USAID partner Action Against Hunger has started providing emergency food, water, hygiene, and other relief items to storm-affected communities in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands using the initial financing released last week.
Additionally, the International Organization for Migration supervises evacuation shelters in Caraga and Eastern Visayas and supplies relief materials, including enough heavy-duty plastic sheeting to satisfy the shelter needs of at least 4,800 people, with help from USAID.
USAID works throughout the year to assist communities in the Philippines in preparing for and resiliency to natural disasters.
The US will continue to work alongside the Philippine government to respond to natural catastrophes and assist the Filipino people in their recovery efforts.
Since 2010, USAID has contributed over P17 billion ($340 million) in disaster relief and recovery assistance and enhanced the ability of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines to mitigate disaster risk. (U.S. Embassy in the Philippines/PRESS RELEASE)