The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide Php9.7 million ($200,000) to support the Philippine government’s efforts to assist families hardest hit by Super Typhoon Rolly. More than 2 million people were affected by the typhoon, and over 1 million Filipinos are currently in government evacuation centers.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law commended the Philippine government and local authorities for their hard work in evacuating people before the storm and rescuing those in danger. “We will continue to support our Philippine partners and friends as they work to address the needs of those communities most affected by Super Typhoon Rolly.”
In support of the ongoing relief work, USAID will work with local partners to provide food, emergency shelter, and cash assistance for 22,500 people in Albay and Catanduanes provinces.
As part of USAID’s ongoing disaster preparedness assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme has transported 35 truckloads of food and other emergency relief for disaster-affected families on behalf of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). USAID’s ongoing partnership with the International Organization for Migration is also supporting DSWD with emergency shelter supplies for 3,000 households, training for staff managing evacuation centers, and the provision of 500 family-size modular tents to prevent COVID-19 transmission in the centers.
The United States will continue to partner with the Government of the Philippines to respond to natural disasters and support the people of the Philippines in their recovery efforts. Since 2010, USAID has provided over Php16.4 billion ($340 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid, and boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.
