US to provide P28 million aid for Julian-affected communities

MANILA, Philippines — The United States will provide P28 million in humanitarian supplies and logistical support to communities affected by Super Typhoon Julian in Northern Luzon, the US embassy in Manila said yesterday.

The funding, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide emergency shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene support for more than 4,000 households, or 16,000 people, in typhoon-affected areas.

Since Oct. 7, the US Department of Defense has mobilized multiple military assets to provide logistics support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Office of Civil Defense in transporting humanitarian supplies from Manila to Batanes.

“My heart goes out to everyone affected by Super Typhoon Julian, especially those living in the most devastated areas, including hard-to-reach Batanes,” US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said.

“The United States is working closely with our Filipino friends, partners and allies to provide life-saving assistance to enable those in disaster areas to recover as quickly as possible,” Carlson added.

The embassy said this assistance, in response to a Philippine government request, builds on the US government’s previous support to the Philippines’ disaster response efforts, such as during the massive flooding in Mindanao in February and Typhoon Carina in July.

At the request of the Philippine government, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed US Indo-Pacific Command to support the USAID’s efforts in foreign disaster relief operations in the country following Julian, which made landfall in Cagayan province on Sept. 30.

Two KC-130J Hercules aircraft from the United States III Marine Expeditionary Force arrived at Villamor Air Base last Saturday afternoon, carrying personnel and equipment.