Kuwait Red Crescent pledges at least $1-M aid for 'Sendong' survivors

The Red Crescent in Kuwait pledged this week to give at least $1 million in aid to survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi), after a meeting between its head and Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera there. Primavera met with Kuwait Red Crescent Society President Barges Humoud Al Barges on January 26 to discuss the aid that KRCS will provide to the survivors. "Mr. Al Barges said (the) KRCS is always ready to help the victims of Storm Sendong. He committed to send aid to the typhoon victims in the amount of not less than a million US dollars in cash. He also said that the aid they will provide will be coursed through the Philippine Red Cross," the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Last December, Sendong tore through northern Mindanao and the Visayas, leaving at least 1,268 dead and more than P1.706 billion in damage to property. With Primavera at the meeting were Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Head of Assistance to Nationals Unit Dalidig Tanandato, ATNU Officer Abdulhalim Langco, and Political and Economic Officer Muammar Hassan. Primavera told Al Barges that Sendong left thousands of people homeless and caused millions of dollars of damage. He added those displaced by Sendong floods took shelter in various schools in the area, affecting not only the families that were directly hit by the storm but also the students who cannot use the schools now used by the evacuees. Also, he said livelihood in the area was greatly affected. Primavera thanked Al Barges for the aid that KRCS will provide to the thousands of families affected by Sendong. Last Dec. 22, Primavera called on Al Barges to seek aid for the thousands of families that were displaced by Sendong. — LBG, GMA News