Press release: Typhoon Haiyan: UK supports UN and Red Cross Disaster Appeals

The UK has pledged a further £30 million to support the UN and Red Cross emergency appeals for the Philippines, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced today.

The funding will be used to deliver vital supplies to more than 500,000 victims of the Typhoon Haiyan and support UN and Red Cross teams working on the ground as they coordinate the international relief effort.

He also announced that the UK will deploy a C130 to help with the relief efforts. The C130 will assist DFID, the UN and national authorities with the internal delivery of humanitarian aid and the movement of personnel.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“One week after Typhoon Haiyan, one week after that typhoon hit Tacloban, the huge scale of the disaster is now becoming clearer every day. Over 3,600 dead, nearly 10 million people affected, and they are going to need sustained help from the international community as they start to rebuild their lives.

“I’m proud of the fact that the United Kingdom has helped to lead the international response with the rapid dispatch of warships, aircraft and equipment. I am also very proud of the fact that the British public have once again shown great generosity and compassion and have so far contributed £23 million, and the Government has already contributed a further £20 million.

“Today I can announce that we are providing a further £30 million to support the United Nations and the Red Cross emergency appeals. And we’re also deploying an RAF C130, a Hercules aircraft, to help ensure that aid workers can move between the worst affected areas and get the aid to those who need it most.”

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

“We have already seen a tremendous response to this disaster but these appeals underline just how serious the situation is.

“Backing the UN and Red Cross appeals will ensure the relief effort is properly coordinated and much-needed assistance gets to those who need it. I hope other countries will be joining us to give the Philippines the support it needs.”

The new pledge brings Britain’s total support for the Philippines to more than £50 million.

Five UK Government flights have now delivered aid packages to the Philippines and at least seven more are planned to leave. These have delivered 14,988 shelter kits, 17,369 tarpaulins, 11,230 hygiene kits, 5,925 jerry cans and nine 4x4s have been delivered on UK aid flights.

A RAF C-17 left Brize Norton yesterday loaded with vehicles and fork-lifts to distribute aid and clear debris. In addition, a Lynx helicopter is already performing reconnaissance missions to outlying islands from HMS Daring to help the UN decide where to target its efforts.

On Tuesday 12 November, the United Nations began an appeal for $301 million (£190 million) in aid to help relief efforts in typhoon-hit areas of the Philippines. The UK’s will provide £23 million to the UN.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross have started appeals for £49 million and £10 million respectively. The UK will provide £7 million to these appeals.

The UK’s funding to the UN will provide coordination and logistics support and provide essential food, healthcare, shelter and clean water to up to 440,000 victims of the disaster.

The support for the Red Cross will provide 60,000 people with urgently needed supplies. This will include tents, tarpaulins and mosquito nets to make emergency shelter; soap, clean water and sanitation to combat disease; and disease prevention and health care for mothers and the new-born babies.

The ICRC will also help lost family members to trace their relatives.

This will include building 10,000 latrines and restoring toilet facilities and water supplies to 20 schools, drastically cutting the risk of disease. Precise allocations to each UN and Red Cross agencies will be decided in due course based on need.

Notes to editors

1. The C130 is coming from the fleet in the UK and it is expected to arrive in the Philippines early next week.
2. In addition to the new pledge of £30 million, the UK has already provided more than £20 million in disaster relief for the Philippines. Our humanitarian support will help up to 800,000 people in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. See here for latest updates: www.gov.uk/government/news/typhoon-haiyan-latest-updates-on-uk-aid