Cyclone Haiyan, European aid is in place (maj4)
(BRUSSELS2) Faced with tropical cyclone Haiyan which hit the Philippines, the European Commission released emergency aid of 3 million euros. The classic of emergency humanitarian aid. Other aid could thus be released in the hours to come, given the intensity of the disaster: at least 10.000 dead, according to an initial assessment and more than 2000 missing.
major disaster
According to information obtained from the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Aid. There would be around 620.000 displaced people, a quarter of whom outside the evacuation centers (182.000). And the damage in the Tacloban area is major. " Ensuring hygiene, water supply, food, shelter and medicine are Tacloban's immediate priority for the government. (...) Means for air traffic control structures and fuel reserves are damaged. And only military transport aircraft like C-130 (all terrain) are capable of operating”. All around the airport is desolation. “Access remains a big problem. An 11 km trip from the airport to the city takes about 6 hours ". In the city, " cases of looting have been observed and insecurity persists ". In the region around the city it is even worse” No food, no water, no electricity according to a team from UNDAC (the UN Disaster Coordination and Assessment Service) who crossed the country from Manila. Several islands are concerned. Flights to Roxas City, Busuanga and Kalibo. And the north of the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo seem severely affected.
A Belgian field hospital
La Belgium quickly triggered the B'Fast procedure. The decision was taken on Sunday morning by the planning committee chaired by Foreign Minister Didier Reynders. A team of around forty people - mainly medical personnel - is leaving this Sunday evening aboard a Belgian defense A330 from Melsbroek airport (Brussels military airport) to set up a field hospital and a module water purification.
The Netherlands have decided to pay 2 million euros to respond to the appeal from the Red Cross and the United Nations.
Le United Kingdom decided to grant aid of £5 million (to be added to the £1,3 million paid for disaster preparedness). A team of 4 people from DFID came to reinforce the 3 humanitarian experts already on site in order to coordinate the aid. (Update) Great Britain will deploy - as Prime Minister Cameron said on Monday (11/11) a military ship HMS Daring (D-32) to provide humanitarian assistance. In addition to the on-board helicopter which should be very useful, this Type 45 destroyer carries equipment to desalinate the sea water to make it drinkable. A C-17 aircraft will also be deployed to bring humanitarian aid and various materials.
L'Ireland offered 1 million euros which will be distributed through Irish NGOs, in order to provide shelter, food, water and basic necessities (equipment provided by Irish Aid and distributed in the Philippines by the NGO Plan Ireland). In addition, "Ireland's Rapid Response Corps" is on "standby" to provide expert assistance to the UN agencies present on the ground, specified Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Eamon Gilmore, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(shift) Germany announced the departure of 23 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the disaster-hit Visayas region on Sunday through its embassy in Manila. A medical team as well as the federal agency THW (German disaster relief organization) will also be deployed on site.
(shift) The France decided to send 10 tonnes of relief material (tents, tarpaulins, etc.) by plane. Aid is expected to arrive Wednesday morning in the stricken province of Cebu in the Philippines. Appeals for donations have also been launched by French NGOs.
Visit of Commissioner Piebalgs and condolences from Van Rompuy
The European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, began a three-day visit to the Philippines on Sunday. (shift). During his visit on Tuesday (November 12), he announced the release of an additional 10 million euros to deal with the humanitarian disaster but more focused on reconstruction."We would like to see no gap between the emergency effort and the long-term actions" he said in a statement.
The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, expressed on Sunday "his great sadness" at the loss of life and the massive destruction. " The European Union is on your side to deal with the painful consequences of this natural disaster. he added in a press release.
European Civil Protection Mechanism triggered
(updated) The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCP) was activated on Monday: "a team of 6 to 8 civil protection experts will be deployed in the coming days to coordinate the relief with the authorities of the Philippines and international organizations" says the European Commission.
International aid
(updated) In response to a request from Sweden, the strategic consortium of NATO (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS)) sent on Monday (11 November) to the disaster-stricken city of Tablocan in the Philippines, a transport plane, the Ilyushin ll-76, loaded with tents, water purifiers, food, office equipment, and computers , in order to meet humanitarian needs.
Helicopters provided by the ministry Russian Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) were mobilized overnight from Sunday to Monday (H. Philippines). The Russians should also provide electricity generators and communication equipment.
(shift) TheU.S. Army sets in motion. Search and rescue means, with the support of helicopters and maritime surveillance planes and logistical means will be released. 90 American soldiers were deployed on the spot with a C-17. Coming from Tokyo, the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) was requisitioned with 5000 sailors and 80 aircraft on board. This aid includes the sending of an M-22 Osprey by the US Army, a tilt-rotor helicopter, in order to access difficult areas.
Le Canada pledged $5 million.
(update 13/11) 147 soldiers Israeli were also sent to the Philippines on Wednesday (November 13) loaded with 100 tons of medical and humanitarian aid, to establish an advanced medical post in the city of Bogo in the north of Cebu province, announces the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
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