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Germany provides assistance to typhoon victims in the Philippines
A tropical storm in the Philippines has caused flooding that has affected hundreds of thousands. The Federal Foreign Office is providing immediate humanitarian assistance.
The Federal Foreign Office has made available almost 500,000 euro in immediate humanitarian aid for typhoon victims in the Philippines.
The funds will go towards distributing aid supplies such as hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and essential goods to the victims of tropical storm Washi on the island of Mindanao.
This weekend, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had sent a message of condolence to his Philippine counterpart and offered humanitarian emergency assistance for the people affected. He issued the following statement in Berlin today (21 December):
“We are again confronted with images of devastation from the Philippines. The people there are fighting for survival and urgently need help. The funds now being provided by the Federal Foreign Office are intended to help ease the suffering of the population quickly.”
From 16 to 18 December, tropical storm Washi’s heavy, protracted rainfall caused heavy flooding, flash floods, and landslides on the Philippine’s second largest island Mindanao. According to Philippine authorities, around 340,000 people have been affected by the typhoon. More than 950 people have lost their lives.
The national authorities are actively pursuing aid and rescue measures. Typhoon Washi is the 19th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year. Already this fall, the Philippines had seen flooding due to several tropical storms and heavy rains. The Federal Foreign Office provided humanitarian aid then, too.
The Federal Foreign Office is monitoring the situation in the Philippines continuously and stands ready to provide prompt support for humanitarian relief operations as needed.
