US provides relief assistance to areas hit by Odette

The United States government has provided a variety of supplies and capabilities to support disaster relief efforts in areas affected by Typhoon Odette.

US Embassy Charge d'Affaires ad interim Heather Variava said the US has provided 19 trucks to transport Department of Social Welfare and Development relief commodities across Caraga, Central Visayas and Western Visayas.

It has also provided 12 trucks carrying 20,000 food rations to affected areas.

The US government also helped in activating mobile storage units for transporting supplies to Surigao City and Surigao del Norte.

It added that it is currently working with the Philippine government to deploy two mobile operations to Surigao del Norte and Southern Leyte.

"This will help with telecommunication services to help first responders responding to the disaster," Variava said at NAIA, during the arrival of more than 1.7 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses donated by the US government.

"We are looking forward to working with our friends and partners in the Philippines to respond further to the typhoon effects," she added.

At least 58 people were reported dead, 199 were injured, and 18 were missing due to Typhoon Odette, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Monday. The Philippine National Police puts the death toll at 211.

The NDRRMC also said Odette could be considered the fiercest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News