MANILA – The United States government on Wednesday announced an additional USD19 million (about PHP950 million) in humanitarian assistance to support areas hit by Typhoon Odette, bringing the total amount of aid to the Philippines to more than PHP1 billion.
“The United States is pleased to announce additional and significant assistance of PHP950 million, which brings our total amount of aid for Typhoon Odette to over PHP1 billion. We stand steadfast with our long-standing friend, partner, and ally in helping support communities devastated by the typhoon,” US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava said in a statement.
The additional assistance will give food, water, hygiene supplies, and housing support to the afflicted population through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The new funding is in addition to the PHP50 million Washington DC announced earlier to support emergency logistics efforts to ensure aid is delivered to those in hard-to-reach areas.
The US Embassy in Manila stated that it also builds on the PHP10 million aid given by USAID immediately following the storm for food, water, and hygiene supplies, and also to restore water supply services and sanitation facilities and to support hygiene promotion activities.
Meanwhile, Variava is expected to visit communities impacted by “Odette” and observe ongoing US relief operations.
“Odette” made landfall on December 16, bringing in destructive winds and torrential rains. The latest government data showed that more than 4.3 million people were affected across 11 regions in 6,115 barangays, with a total of 397 reported casualties and 1,147 injured.
More than 561,000 people have been displaced, with 305,229 taking shelter in evacuation centers, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Washington DC would continue to work with the Philippines to respond to natural calamities and assist Filipinos in their recovery efforts, the embassy stated.
USAID’s partners are transporting relief supplies, including food provided by the Philippine government, to feed nearly 103,000 families through existing programs.
In addition, USAID partners are assisting in the management of evacuation shelters, the deployment of mobile operations vehicles to support emergency communications, and the provision of heavy-duty plastic sheeting to meet the shelter needs of 4,800 families.
