Finland grants EUR 2.7 million to Philippines Typhoon victims | national

Sat, 30 Nov, 2013 04:28:47 AM

Finland grants EUR 2.7 million to Philippines Typhoon victims

FTimes Report, November 30

Children around a makeshift shelter beside a message on a board that reads "Help Us, Merry Christmas", next to a Christmas tree on a street in Basay, Samar province on November 28, 2013. The Philippines' economy expanded 7.0 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, but a series of storms curbed growth and a devastating typhoon this month will slow momentum further, the government said on November 28. Photo – AFP/Lehtikuva.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs granted EUR 2.7 million in humanitarian assistance to the Philippines to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, said a press release on Friday.

Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto on Thursday made the decision to provide the financial support.

The aid will be delivered to the Philippines via the Finnish Red Cross and Finn Church Aid and through the World Food Programme (WFP), according to the release of the ministry.

Finland's assistance will be used for things that are the most urgent after the disaster: shelter, supply of food and water, and healthcare.

A young girl fetches water near a ship that was washed ashore by Super Typhoon Haiyan and is now lodged among the rubble of destroyed homes in a Tacloban waterfront community on November 23, 2013. More than 4,000 people were killed and up to 4.4 million displaced when typhoon Haiyan packing some of the strongest winds ever recorded by a storm made landfall. Photo – AFP/Lehtikuva.

Despite the difficult circumstances, some of the assistance has already reached its destination.

"It's excellent that domestic organizations started off so quickly. It is also highly positive that Finns have wanted to help the disaster victims, and a considerable sum has been collected through private donations. However, long-term assistance will continue to be needed for people who have lost their homes, orphans and others in distress," said Haavisto.

Finland extended 350,000 euros to the fund being established by the Asian Development Bank for the reconstruction of the typhoon-ravaged areas of the Philippines.

"Reconstruction must be launched immediately, alongside humanitarian assistance. Preliminary needs estimates have already been made. In all, 3.5 million people have had to leave their homes. They must be ensured basic services and the possibility to return home as soon as possible," Haavisto said.

Finland Times