Funding and supplies approved for Philippines Typhoon

Minister Joe Costello approves funding and emergency supplies to assist families affected by Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines

Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., today announced that Ireland is providing €125,000 and 32 tonnes of emergency supplies to assist families left homeless by the typhoon which hit the Philippines last week.

The severity of damage and destruction caused by Typhoon Bopha prompted President Benigno Aquino III to declare a state of emergency. Affected communities are in urgent need of food, water and shelter.

Minister Costello said:

“Plan Ireland and Christian Aid Ireland are urgently responding to the crisis in Mindanao and Davao Regions.  These organisations have been given approval to draw down €125,000 from pre-approved Irish Aid funding to address the immediate needs of affected families.

In addition, I have authorised an airlift of 400 family-sized tents, 300 pickaxes and spades and 15,000 soap bars from Ireland’s stocks in the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Malaysia.  This airlift will provide emergency support to 400 families who are enduring extremely difficult conditions.  Plan Ireland will distribute these items on arrival.

“In addition, one member of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps will deploy to the Philippines to support UNICEF’s work to improve water and sanitation provision. My staff are in close contact with the UN agencies responding to the emergency. We will continue to  monitor the situation very closely, including through our Embassy in Singapore.”

December 2012

For further information or to request an interview with Minister Costello, contact Fionnuala Quinlan, Press Officer, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 01-4082653 or 0879099975.

Note for Editors:

• Irish Aid is the Government’s programme of overseas assistance. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Plan Ireland and Christian Aid Ireland are drawing down €75,000 and €50,000 respectively from the Irish Aid Emergency Response Fund. This pre-approved funding is reserved for severe emergencies and can be drawn on quickly to facilitate a speedy humanitarian response.
• Irish Aid maintains emergency stocks within the UN Humanitarian Response Depot network located in or close to crisis prone part of the world.  Through this network Irish Aid prepositions emergency stocks in Dubai, Ghana, Italy, Malaysia and Panama.
• Irish Aid manages the Rapid Response Corps, a register of highly-skilled individuals who are willing to deploy at short notice to assist in an emergency relief effort.