UN: $301M needed for Yolanda action plan; int'l aid total now at P2.585B

(Updated 8:15 p.m.) As much as $301 million (P13.174 billion) will be needed for the United Nations' action plan for the typhoon-battered central Philippines, the organization said Tuesday, while the Department of Foreign Affairs noted that the total international aid to support relief and rehabilitation efforts is estimated at P2.585 billion so far.

The UN made the statement at its briefing for its flash appeal and action plan for the country.

"We've just launched an action plan focusing on the areas of food, health, sanitation, shelter, debris removal and also protection of the most vulnerable with the government and I very much hope our donors will be generous,"  UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos told reporters in Manila, according to an Agence France-Presse report.

"That plan is for $301 million."

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez, meanwhile, said the Philippines has so far received 33 offers of assistance from foreign donors.

“It must be noted that the actual value could be significantly higher since we can account only for financial aid, in-kind donations and deployment of rescue personnel with available cost information,” Hernandez told a press briefing.

“There are forms of assistance which has not been assigned monetary evaluation by the donors. The estimated amount was also processed through an online currency conversion tool that does not factor in inter-bank rates and daily fluctuations and foreign exchange rates,” he said.

International aid breakdown

The DFA provided a list of countries and the aid they have pledged:

1. Australia – medical team and search and rescue worth P40.456 million; financial aid worth P323.653 million; and relief goods worth P45.456 million.

2. Belgium – medical personnel, water treatment units, and relief goods

3. Canada – financial aid (P205.691 million) and relief goods (P102.845 million)

4. China – humanitarian aid (P4.552 million)

5. Denmark – financial ad (P77.268 million)

6. European Union – relief goods, financial aid (P172.816 million), and a team of humanitarian experts

7. Finland – relief goods (P57.605 million), and two motor boats for rescue operations

8. France – medical team and search and rescue unit

9. Germany – financial aid (P28.502 million), medical team and search and rescue unit, and relief goods

10. Hungary – medical team and search and rescue unit

11. Indonesia – relief goods (P87.045 million)

12. Israel – relief goods and medical team and search and rescue unit

13. Japan – medical team and search and rescue unit

14. Luxembourg – medical team and search and rescue unit,a nd financial aid (P23.042 millon)

15. Malaysia – medical team and search and rescue unit

16. Netherlands – financial aid (P115.211 million)

17. New Zealand – financial aid (P71 million)

18. Norway – financial aid (P140.424 million)

19. Russia – medical team and search and rescue unit

20. Singapore – medical team and search and rescue unit, financial aid (P6.909 million)

21. Spain – medical team and search and rescue unit, and relief goods

22. Sweden – financial aid

23. Taiwan – financial aid (P8.622 million) and relief goods

24. Turkey – relief goods and medical team and search and rescue unit

25. United Arab Emirates – financial aid (P431 million)

26. United Kingdom – financial aid (P414.051 million)

27. United States – medical team and search and rescue unit, and financial aid (P4.311 million)

28. Vatican City – financial aid (P6.466 million)

29. Vietnam – humanitarian aid (P4.311 million)

The list was released before South Korea's announcement later Tuesday that it will donate $5 million to the relief efforts, raising the total from P2.366 billion to P2.585 billion.

International organizations UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders have also pledged in-kind donations. Meanwhile, Oxfam mobilized a medical team and search and rescue unit, while UNOCHA (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) has provided financial aid worth P1.077 billion.

For its part, Canada’s Minister of International Development Christian Paradis announced that for every donation given by a Canadian citizen, the Canadian government will add a dollar under the Matching Fund scheme.

"Through this fund, for every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities in response to the crisis in the Philippines the government will donate an additional dollar—effectively doubling their contribution,” he explained in a statement.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little revealed that aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and other US Navy ships are en route to the Philippines to provide humanitarian assistance, supplies and medical care.

UN breakdown

Hernandez had said Monday that the Philippines accepted the UN's offer for the issuance of a flash appeal, and that the UN was undertaking needs assessment activities in the affected areas.

According to the UN during its Tuesday briefing, the funding requirements for its action plan includes:

$76 million for food security;
$46 million for emergency shelters;
$31 million for livelihoods;
$25 million for education;
$22 million for water, sanitation and hygiene;
$21.5 million for health;
$20 million for early recovery;
$4 million for emergency telecommunications; and
$3 million for coordination.

The UN said the action plan is good for six months from November 2013 until May 2014.

According to the Agence France-Presse report, Amos praised the international community's reaction since Yolanda slammed into the Philippines on Friday, but said much more needed to be done in a disaster of almost biblical proportions.

"We have already seen an international and generous response given the horrific pictures that people have seen, particularly on their television screens," she said.

"We know that people are being helped now but we also know that given the scale of the disaster that ought to be continued.

"The action plan sets out what is needed across a number of different sectors.

"At this point in time it's extremely difficult even to get a sense of what the immediate needs are because it is very difficult to get to some of the areas affected."

UN humanitarian operations director John Ging added, "We are certainly expecting the worst. As we get more and more access we find the tragedy of more and more people killed in this typhoon."

PHL government fund

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad on Tuesday disclosed that there are available government funds which could address disaster relief operations in areas deeply affected by the typhoon.

“As of end-October, the President’s Social Fund has a balance of P6.4 billion, while P16.6 billion in government savings are still available,” he said in a separate emailed statement.

“We can readily tap these fund sources, in addition to the P1.74 billion in Quick Relief Funds (QRFs) that are now being mobilized to facilitate the delivery of immediate aid to all typhoon victims,” he noted.

“Furthermore, we also have P1.28 billion in Calamity Funds and another P824 million in Contingency Funds at our disposal,” Abad added.

The Budget Secretary noted that the “costly” rehabilitation requirement would be addressed through the 2014 budget.

“Nonetheless, the more urgent post-disaster requirements—such as the restoration of power, water, and other utilities in all affected communities, as well as the immediate provision of shelter, food, medical and rescue activities, and clearing operations—will be amply supported by available funds,” he said.

Red Cross asks for $94 million

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing for $94.6 million “to assist the estimated 10 million people affected” by the super typhoon.

“Within the overall appeal, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is appealing for 72 million Swiss francs to provide 100,000 families with food, clean water, shelter and other essential relief over a period of 18 months,” the group said in a statement.

“Help must reach those in need as soon as possible,” said Jagan Chapagain, IFRC director for Asia Pacific. “The added advantage of the Philippine Red Cross is our vast network on the ground, coupled with strong support from all our Movement partners globally, which enable us to reach the most remote communities quickly.” — with a report by Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/BM, GMA News