MANILA, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines -- The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional Php 50 million ($1 million) to support communities affected by Typhoon Odette.
This funding is in addition to the initial Php10 million ($200,000) in assistance provided by the United States on December 22 to support the Philippine government’s relief efforts. The assistance will provide logistics support to transfer humanitarian workers and relief supplies to communities devastated by Typhoon Odette.
In partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the new funding from USAID will provide logistics and emergency telecommunications support in typhoon-affected areas. WFP will set up four emergency logistics hubs in Surigao del Norte for storing and distributing relief supplies. With U.S. assistance, WFP will also transport food from the Philippine government to feed tens of thousands of 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,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava. “This support will help ensure that food and other life-saving supplies reach communities most in need.”
With the initial funding announced last week, USAID partner Action Against Hunger has been providing 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.
USAID works year-round to help communities in the Philippines prepare for and be more resilient to natural disasters. The United States will continue to partner with the Philippine government to respond to natural disasters and support the people of the Philippines in their recovery efforts. Since 2010, USAID has provided over Php17 billion ($340 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid and boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.