Germany donates P35M for 'Ondoy' relief efforts

The German government conveyed its condolences to the victims of tropical storm "Ondoy" on Wednesday and donated €500,000 (roughly Php35 million) for the government’s relief efforts. In a telegram sent to Malacañang, German President Horst Köhler expressed his sympathies to the Filipino people and assured their help and support. "Our thoughts are also with the rescue workers and with those who lost everything they owned in the storm," Köhler said. "Germany is prepared to provide humanitarian aid in order to help the people affected by the disaster return to a normal life as quickly as possible." German Ambassador to the Philippines Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch said the €500,000 will be placed at the disposal of German Humanitarian Aid Organizations Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross) and other German relief Agencies. "The main purpose of the aid is to provide urgently needed food and sanitary products for the victims of the disaster," the German embassy said in a statement. Appeal for foreign help The Philippine government on Monday appealed to the international community for help as it deals with the devastation caused by Ondoy," which battered Metro Manila and nearby provinces last Saturday and left more than 200 people dead. The United States government has provided a total of $100,000 immediate relief operations to the victims of Ondoy. 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). Japan has extended Y20-million (P10.478-million) worth of relief goods for those affected by the floods caused by Ondoy. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada sent a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo expressing his country’s heartfelt sympathy to the loss of many lives and serious damage to property. "The Government of Japan, in response to the request from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, has decided to provide emergency relief goods equivalent to approximately 20 million yen (approximately US$220,000) to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines," the Japanese Embassy said in a statement on its Web site. China aid Similarly, Chinese firm Hwawei would donate $30,000 to be used for the relief operations for Ondoy victims. This was in addition to the $10,000 earlier given by the Chinese government for disaster relief assistance to the country. Hwawei’s cash assistance would be personally given to Vice President Noli de Castro on Monday night during the celebration of the 60th Chinese National Day. "Some of our Filipino friends find it hard, some even impossible, to celebrate with us because of ‘Ondoy’," said Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchiao. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin thanked the Chinese government for its generosity. - GMANews.TV