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US gives additional $50,000 aid for ‘Ondoy’ victims


The United States government has provided the Philippines with an additional $50,000 (roughly P2.3 million) aid to help the country deal with the devastation caused by tropical storm "Ondoy" (international name: Ketsena). The additional fund brings to $100,000 the total amount of the immediate relief operations provided by the US. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney has authorized the additional disaster relief fund through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), according to a statement from the US Embassy in Manila. The donation would be delivered to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) by the USAID, it said. “Damage caused by this storm is heartbreaking," Kenney said, adding that they would also coordinate with local officials to determine what assistance they could further provide. A total of 140 people have been confirmed dead due to the storm as of Monday night. The US Marines have already been helping the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its search and rescue efforts for "Ondoy" victims in Cainta and Pasig cities, two of the worst hit areas in the country. Aside from the US, the Japanese government also provided the country with Y20-million (P10.478-million) worth of relief goods for those affected by the floods. Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., appealed to the international community for more assistance as it deals with the effect of "Ondoy." “The President authorized me as chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council… to request the international humanitarian community for assistance on behalf of the government of the Philippines," he said in a press briefing at the NDCC office in Camp Aguinaldo. - GMANews.TV

Tags: stormondoy, ondoy
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