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Government shipment of emergency supplies for families hit by floods in Philippines

The Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., today announced the arrival of emergency shelter supplies to assist thousands of families left homeless by the typhoon which hit the Philippines earlier this month.

The Minister said the shipment of 400 large tents and 15,000 blankets will support the international relief operation on the island of Mindanao, which was devastated by landslides and severe flooding following a tropical storm on December 15 and 16.

“We now know that more than 1,000 people have lost their lives, while 1,500 were injured. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, more than 10,000 homes were either destroyed or damaged, leaving more than 350,000 people homeless. This airlift will provide vital shelter to some of these families, who have been enduring extremely difficult conditions over the last two weeks.”

The emergency supplies were airlifted by Ireland from our pre-positioned stocks in the United Nations’ humanitarian depot in Malaysia to Davao City on Mindanao Island last night (Dec 25).  The supplies are being distributed by Plan Ireland.”

“I have also put members of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps on standby to deploy to the Philippines over the coming days and weeks to assist the international relief operation.  We will continue to monitor the situation very closely, including through our Embassy in Singapore.”

“I would like to express Ireland’s solidarity with the people of the Philippines and the thousands of Filipino nationals who are resident in Ireland. Our thoughts are with them today and with their families, who may have been affected by this disaster.”

26th December 2011

 

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. 

www.irishaid.gov.ie

 Note for Editors:

Irish Aid maintains emergency stocks within the UN Humanitarian Relief Depot system located in or close to crisis prone part of the world. Through this network Irish Aid supplies in Panama, Dubai, Ghana and Italy, as well as in Malaysia (Subang).

Irish Aid maintains the Rapid Response Corps, a register of highly-skilled individuals who are willing to be deployed at short notice to assist in an emergency relief effort.

The total cost of the airlift is estimated at €395,000. This is in addition to the €100,000 provided to Plan Ireland on December 20.