AUSTRALIA SHOWS STRONG AND STEADFAST FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINES IN THE AFTERMATH OF TYPHOON YOLANDA 21 November 2013 - Philippine Ambassador Belen F. Anota extended her appreciation and gratitude to Prime Minister (PM) Tony Abbott and the Australian Government and people for their solidarity, and immediate and generous assistance to the Filipino people in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). In his letter to President Benigno S. Aquino III dated, the Prime Minister stated that now, as then, Australia stands ready to help the Philippines in its hour of need. Governor-General Quentin Bryce also expressed her personal sympathy and solidarity with the Philippines, and that the hearts of all Australians go out to the Filipinos. PM Abbott and other government officials reiterated that the Australian Government stands ready to further assist the Philippines as needed. To date, Australia’s assistance to the Philippines amounts to AU$30 million. A AU$10 million package for humanitarian assistance announced on November 11 includes the deployment of an Australian medical assistance team, AU$3 million deployed through Australian NGOs and AU$4 million to the United Nations (UN) flash appeal. Immediately after the typhoon, the Australian Government mobilized $400,000 in assistance composed of prepositioned emergency supplies of sleeping mats, mosquito nets, water containers, as well as health and hygiene kits. Australia increased its assistance by AU$20 million on November 14 to address serious nutrition, child health and protection needs, purchase emergency food and provide logistical support and non-food items. The assistance includes AU$9 million to the United Nations’ appeal (UNICEF, WHO, WFP and OCHA), AU$4 million to the International Red Cross Red Crescent, AU$2 million to the Australian Red Cross, AU$2 million to other Australian NGOs, AU$1 million to local NGOs and the deployment of Australian specialists, including a medical team (AU$1M), AFP disaster management specialists, and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) humanitarian and consular experts (AU$1M). Australian Medical Assistance The Australian Medical Assistance Team (AusMAT), a light surgical response with field hospital is comprised of a 37-person civilian team, including 12 doctors, 14 nurses, three (3) paramedics, six (6) logisticians, one (1) radiographer and one (1) pharmacist, accompanied by seven (7) DFAT government staff. Its 50-bed field hospital now serves as the surgical hub for relief operations in Tacloban City, with an X-ray facility, two operating rooms, five triage tents, and enough supplies for 4,000 patients and 200 surgical operations. Australia’s Military Assistance The Australian Defence Force (ADF) established Joint Task Force 630 (JTF 630) to conduct “Operation Philippines Assist” in order to support international Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the affected areas in the Philippines. Thirteen (13) ADF personnel from the Joint Task Force Headquarters Reconnaissance Team were deployed to the Philippines on November 15. The ADF continues to support the AusMAT at Tacloban City, as well as providing airlift support to relief efforts in the region. To date, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft have transported 300 tonnes of humanitarian and disaster relief cargo and evacuated over 1,100 internally displaced persons (IDPs) out of Tacloban City. A RAAF C-130J Hercules will remain deployed in the Philippines providing intra theatre support to the relief efforts, while two RAAF C-17A Globemasters stand ready to support as tasking requires. The ADF will also provide support through the deployment of a maritime based Recovery Support Force (RSF) on HMAS Tobruk, which was diverted from her tasking to be available to deploy to support the relief effort. HMAS Tobruk left Australia on November 18 with an embarked Recovery Support Force (RSF), medium landing craft (LCM8) and a Navy rotary wing element. The 100-personnel contingent from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, which is part of the RSF onboard HMAS Tobruk, will be responsible for establishing and providing clean water, clear roads, restore power to key infrastructure, and complete other essential tasks. HMAS Tobruk is ideally suited to the recovery effort given her amphibious heavy lift capability, on-board accommodation and ability to support helicopter and landing craft operations, with capabilities that include hydrographic survey, clearance divers, medical professionals and linguists. Assistance from other States and Territory In addition, the other state and territories have also extended generous assistance to the typhoon victims. The New South Wales Government pledged AU$500,000, the Queensland State Government will provide direct financial aid of AU$1,000,000 and offered to assist with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Urban Search and Rescue team, the Victorian Government committed an initial sum of $100,000 to the Australian Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan Appeal. Other assistance includes a private room provided by the Tasmanian government in Hobart with full communications (phone and email access) to families who would like to contact with their families and friends in the Philippines, with a Community Development Staff on hand to assist. The Brisbane City Council opened a Condolences Book for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda at the Brisbane City Hall on November 12, and a sympathy letter was received from Northern Territory Administrator, Hon. Sally Thomas. The Philippine Consular Offices in all the other States and the Northern Territory in Australia headed by Honorary Consuls have also actively spearheaded efforts to coordinate and generate donations and assistance for the typhoon victims. The Filipino-Australian Community The Catholic churches in Canberra also offered special prayer intentions at masses held around the capital and conducted a third Sunday collection for the typhoon victims to be channelled through Caritas Manila. Many Filipino and Filipino-Australian organizations Australia-wide have conducted fund raising activities and have channelled the proceeds to relief organizations of their choice. The Philippine Embassy opened its Condolence Book for signing on November 14and continues to receive offers of sympathies and support from the Filipinos in Australia, Australian Government officials, diplomatic community and the general public. END
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 08:45:13 +0000
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