More Irish aid set to arrive in Philippines

Minister for Foreign Affairs says Ireland will play its ‘full part’ in relief effort


About 100 tonnes of emergency supplies from Ireland will arrive in the Philippines today as part of an international relief effort in the devastated country.

The Irish Aid consignment is worth more than €500,000 and is in addition to €1 million already pledged by the Government to help families affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Yesterday, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore said Ireland would play its "full part" in the relief effort.

The consignment includes nearly 600 tents, 700 tarpaulins, 10,000 blankets and 880 ropes which will be used for makeshift shelters.

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Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello said another airlift of Irish supplies to the Philippines might be necessary.

'Essential supplies'
"These essential supplies will be distributed by Plan Ireland to alleviate the immediate needs of men, women and children affected by one of the most powerful storms ever recorded," he said.

The latest Irish shipment of emergency stocks is the second in as many weeks to the Philippines.

People in some of the worst affected areas are in desperate need of food, water and shelter, according to Goal emergency team member Sue Hodgson, who arrived in the region on Monday.

“Shelter is a priority. It’s still raining here – it was raining all day today – and to compound matters, there are more tropical storms due in the coming days,” she said.

“Lack of food is also a major problem in many areas, and water and sanitation issues will become more and more of a concern as each day passes.”

Trócaire is part of an international emergency response team that has arrived in the Philippines.

Eoghan Rice, humanitarian communications officer with the Irish charity, said 250 volunteers were working to pack aid for people in the worst affected regions.

Each family pack contains rice, canned goods, packets of noodles and protein-rich manna rice.

The packs are designed to last a family of five for three days and 2,000 such packs will be sent to Leyte, an area badly affected by the typhoon.

Book of condolences
A book of condolences for the people of the Philippines opened yesterday.

The book will be open to the public to sign in the Mansion House in Dublin from today to Friday, 10am-4pm.

Filipino community
Speaking about the disaster yesterday, Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn expressed his sympathy with the people of the Philippines.

He gave his support to the Filipino community living and working in Ireland.

On Monday, President Michael D Higgins sent a letter to Philippines president Benigno Aquino, expressing support and sympathy on behalf of the Irish people.