UK to donate £1M to typhoon victims in Philippines, Vietnam

The United Kingdom will donate £1 million to victims of Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) in the Philippines as well as those hit by a series of storms in Vietnam.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Minister for Asia Nigel Adams said Tuesday that the aid for 80,000 Filipinos and some 160,000 people in Vietnam will be given to the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), who will distribute it to local Red Cross partners.

“The typhoons that have hit the Philippines and Vietnam have had a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods across the region,” Adams said.

“Today’s £1 million UK aid package will help to deliver life-saving food, clean water and safe shelter to those who need it most and help both the Philippines and Vietnam recover from such destructive natural disasters,” he added.

The IFRC has also launched an emergency appeal for both the Philippines and Vietnam to scale up the Red Cross’ response into the two countries.

Rolly claimed at least 17 lives in the Philippines, while hundreds of thousands of residents were displaced. 

Vietnam was also recently hit by four typhoons that affected over 1.3 million people and submerged nearly 300,000 houses. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News