PHL provides $110,000 to flood victims in Thailand, Pakistan

Despite suffering a great loss of lives due to flooding in southern Philippines due to the deadly tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi), the country still managed to extend a $110,000-assistance to flooding victims in Thailand and Pakistan. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said $100,000 was given for victims in Thailand and $10,000 for those in Pakistan. "The donations were turned over to Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Prasas Prasasvinitchai and Pakistani Ambassador to the Philippines Mohsin Razi. The Philippine donation to both countries will be used for rehabilitation programs for the flood victims," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a news release. According to the DFA, Thailand suffered severe flooding from August to October 2011, which affected about 2.5 million people and caused more than 350 deaths. The Thai Chamber of Commerce's Center for Economic and Business Forecasting estimated the economic loss at 550 billion Thai bhat (P765.63 billion). On the other hand, Pakistan's Sindh province suffered flooding in September 2011, with over five million people displaced. Hundreds were killed and livestock and crops were devastated. In the Philippines, residents in Mindanao and the visayas are still reeling from the effects of tropical storm "Sendong." As of Saturday morning, it had affected 117,665 families (or 1,136,222 people) in 808 villages in 13 provinces. At least 1,257 were killed and 4,663 injured while 169 remained missing. The damage to property fron "Sendong" was estimated at P1,399,602,882.40. - VVP, GMA News