Australia is providing an additional Php28.52 million to support the Philippine government’s response to the devastation caused by super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), particularly in the Bicol Region, the Australian Embassy in Manila said in a statement on Wednesday.
The latest commitment, according to the embassy, will contribute to the collective response from the humanitarian community in the Philippines and will directly assist 23,345 affected people including 2,990 women and girls, especially pregnant and nursing mothers.
It added that the assistance would provide life-saving support to the most affected communities and municipalities in the region to help the affected people provide food for their families and repair their damaged homes. Australia will also support emergency medical teams to provide reproductive and maternal health care and counseling services.
“This support is even more critical following Typhoon Ulysses that caused further hardship for the people in the Bicol Region,” said Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO. “Australia stands with the Philippines in this time of need.”
Robinson said they have been coordinating with humanitarian partners in the Philippines to ensure their assistance “is well-informed, targeted and supports the Philippine government response.”
At the onset of Typhoon Rolly early this month, Australia has immediately deployed about Php6.48 million worth of in-country prepositioned humanitarian supplies through the Philippine Red Cross and the United National Population Fund (UNFPA).
The Embassy said that assistance benefitted around 1,000 vulnerable families and 1,400 women and girls, including pregnant and nursing mothers and 400 newborn babies, affected and displaced by Super Typhoon Rolly.
On Tuesday, Robinson said Australia has so far provided a total of AUD1 million (Php36 million) in response to the powerful typhoons that recently hit the country.
“This is not really the amount but the principle that when the Philippines is in difficulty Australia will standby with the Philippines,” Robinson said at the sidelines of the launching of the Macquarie Investing in Women RISE Fund.