Today (14 November), Foreign Minister Westerwelle telephoned the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Albert F. del Rosario.

Secretary del Rosario described the situation in the crisis area, explained the Philippine Government’s aid measures and expressly thanked Germany for its very swiftly dispatched humanitarian support.

Foreign Minister Westerwelle expressed Germany’s sympathy to his counterpart in light of the devastating natural disaster and its many victims, announced further aid and promised that Germany would contribute to the reconstruction of affected areas.

Following today’s crisis unit meeting in the Federal Foreign Office, Foreign Minister Westerwelle decided to bolster humanitarian aid to the Philippines with a further 3 million euros.

With the 1.5 million euros which have already been pledged, 4.5 million euros are now available for emergency humanitarian assistance.

The projects receiving funding include a Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement base camp, which has been erected by the German Red Cross in the region, and German aid organisation measures, which aim to construct emergency shelter and restore the provision of water, medical and food supplies to the affected population.