The United States (US) will provide an additional P50-million aid to the Philippines for its ongoing relief operations to areas affected by the onslaught of typhoon Odette, the US Embassy in Manila bared.
"The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional P50 million ($1 million) to support communities affected by Typhoon Odette," the US Embassy said in a statement on Monday, Dec. 27.
It is in addition to the initial P10 million ($200,000) assistance provided by the US government to the Philippines on Dec. 22 to provide logistics support to transfer humanitarian workers and relief supplies to communities devastated by the deadly typhoon.
According to US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim (CDA) Heather Variava, the new funding from USAID will provide logistics and emergency telecommunications support in typhoon-affected areas in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
WFP will set up four emergency logistics hubs in Surigao del Norte for storing and distributing of relief supplies. It will also transport food from the Philippine government to feed Filipinos and assist with re-establishing the telecommunications networks to support response efforts.
“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. This support will help ensure that food and other life-saving supplies reach communities most in need,” Variava said.
Last week, USAID partnered with Action Against Hunger to provide immediate food, water, hygiene, and other relief supplies to storm-affected communities in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
The International Organization for Migration, with support from USAID, is also managing evacuation shelters in Caraga and Eastern Visayas and providing relief supplies, including enough heavy-duty plastic sheeting to meet the shelter needs of at least 4,800 families.
READ MORE: More foreign aid pour for PH amid 'Odette' relief ops