30 December 2003. The U.S. Government, acting through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), today donated an additional 7,763,000 Pesos to the Philippine National Red Cross to further assist the victims of flashfloods and landslides in Southern Leyte and the Caraga Region of Mindanao. These funds will be used to provide 96 core shelter units, four deep water wells for emergency water supply, and various support costs targeted to Southern Leyte, the most hard hit area. Some 28,000 families in Southern Leyte are affected by the disaster according to the Red Cross.
This brings the total of funds donated by the U.S. Government to the Philippine National Red Cross for relief efforts to 10,460,000 Pesos.
23 December, 2003: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided over 2.7 million pesos to the Philippine National Red Cross as part of the U.S. Government's assistance to the families and victims of the recent landslides and flashfloods in the provinces of Surigao, Agusan and Southern Leyte. The funds, provided under the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, will be used to support disaster relief operations in the affected areas.
Also, a U.S. Air Force C-130 Cargo plane from the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) delivered 100 cases of ready-to eat meals (MREs), two pallet of basic medical supplies, plastic sheeting, blankets, dried noodles, and 1,200 pairs of shoes to the affected areas.
In addition to the official U.S. Government assistance, the U.S. Embassy Community donated over 20 parcels of clothing, shoes and toiletries to the victims which were delivered by the C-130.
Speaking before media at Villamor Air Base in Manila, accompanied by Red Cross Manager of Disaster Management Services James Y. Sian and USAID Country Director Michael J. Yates, Ambassador Ricciardone offered expressions of great regret and sympathy on behalf of President Bush and the American people for the victims and their families living in the affected communities. The U.S. was not only expressing its sympathy for those families adversely affected by the natural disaster, the Ambassador noted, but was also focused on providing this immediate, emergency assistance in support of 5,000 Filipino families living in the disaster-stricken areas.
Ambassador Francis Ricciardone and USAID Director Michael Yates joined President Gloria Macapagal-Arroy in visiting the affected areas this morning to determine additional assistance that the U.S. could provide to help alleviate the conditions of over 16,000 families affected by the landslides and flashfloods in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan Norte and Southern Leyte.