merrion street

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 givenapproval 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-sizedtents, 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 400families 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 closecontact with the UN agencies responding to the emergency. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely, including through our Embassy in Singapore.”