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Gov't, agencies unite for Philippine relief

Published:Tuesday | November 12, 2013 | 12:00 AM
New-born baby Bea Joy is held as mother Emily Ortega, 21, rests after giving birth at an improvised clinic at Tacloban airport yesterday, in Leyte province, central Philippines. Bea Joy was named after her grandmother Beatrice, who was missing following the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan. - AP

AP:

The United States (US) and other governments and agencies are mounting a major relief effort to help victims of the Philippine typhoon.

Brian Goldbeck, acting ambassador at the US Embassy in Manila, issued a disaster declaration to provide an immediate $100,000 for relief efforts. Officials from the US Agency for International Develop-ment are deployed around the country to monitor the damage.

Other governments and charities working to provide relief in the Philippines include:

Australia

They announced assistance of 10 million Australian dollars ($9.4 million). That includes the deployment of an emergency medical team, aid to the United Nations Flash Appeal, and aid to Aus-tralian non-governmental organisations for immediate life-saving assistance.

UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

The United Nations World Food Programme said it has allocated $2 million for the disaster response and officials joined an assessment mission to survey damage in Leyte and Samar provinces.

UNICEF

UNICEF said its staff in the Philippines is being repositioned to help in relief efforts and 66 tons of emergency supplies are being sent from Copenhagen.

TAIWAN

Taiwan said it will send $200,000 in aid to help with relief efforts.

RED CROSS

The American Red Cross said it has deployed two people to assist with assessments in the Philippines and activated its family tracing services. It asked those who want to support relief efforts to mail a check to their local American Red Cross chapter, with "Philippines Typhoons and Flood" in the memo line.

WORLD VISION

World Vision said it is putting together resources to assist 1.2 million people, including food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter, and protection. It asked for one-time donations to be made at worldvision.org.

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE

The International Rescue Com-mittee (IRC) has dispatched an emergency team to Manila and launched a $10 million appeal. The IRC will work to determine which of its areas of expertise, from water and sanitation to education, are most needed.