Philippines assured of international assistance from the Untied Nations
After receiving assistance from the US, China and Japan, the Philippines was assured by the United Nations of its international assistance as the country recoup from the damages brought about by typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana).
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave his assurance of international support to Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo during a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday (Tuesday morning in Manila).
Shortly after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appeal for international aid, Romulo met with Ban and Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes. In response to the Philippine’s request, the secretary general said the UN is considering issuing a flash appeal for emergency assistance from both member states and non-government organizations.
Holmes, who also heads the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (Ocha), had an earlier meeting with Romulo. He said his agency is ready to coordinate international humanitarian assistance and is looking into the possibility of utilizing the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The CERF is a humanitarian fund established by the UN to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.
Holmes also said that Ocha personnel are assisting in relief operations in Manila. He added that additional personnel who are based in Bangkok will be flying to the Philippines to assess the situation and give recommendations on the kind of assistance they will give.
Meanwhile, the UN chief also expressed his sympathy and condolences to the Philippine government and to the families of the more than 250 people who perished in the floods that also displaced more than 5000,000 people in Metro Manila and 25 other provinces.
September 29, 2009
· 
Roy · 
No Comments
Tags: Alberto Romulo, Ban Ki-moon, Department of foriegn Affairs, DFA, International assistance, John Holmes, Ketsana, Ocha, Philippines, President Arroyo, Typhoon Ondoy, UN headquarters, UN Secretary General, United Nations · Posted in: Announcement, Government, International relations, Philippines, Uncategorized
Leave a Reply