Foreign aid, words of sympathy pour in

MANILA, Philippines - The international community has extended humanitarian help as well as words of sympathy to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda with US Secretary of State John Kerry offering his heartfelt prayers and praising the Filipinos for their “strong spirit.”

“On behalf of the people of the United States, I offer our deepest condolences and solidarity as you wrestle with the devastation and loss of life that accompanied Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda),” Kerry said in a statement.

European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux also expressed yesterday his solidarity with the Filipinos and announced humanitarian teams and relief packages were on their way to affected areas.

“The Philippines has been severely tested by nature on several occasions this year. As it confronts yet another natural calamity, I express my solidarity with the Filipino people and my deep sympathy with those who have lost their loved ones or their livelihoods,” Ledoux said in a statement.

“An EU humanitarian aid team is already in the Philippines to assess the impact of the typhoon and find out how the EU can be most helpful to those most urgent need,” Ledoux added.

For its part, the Chinese embassy said, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the massive destruction caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda. We’d like to express our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the victims and the families that have suffered immense losses of lives and properties.”

“We sincerely hope for speedy recovery in the affected areas and the disaster victims will be able to overcome this challenge and rebuild their homes soon,” it added.

Kerry recalled that it was another powerful storm that had forced him to cancel a visit to Manila last Oct. 11 to 12.

“I know that these horrific acts of nature are a burden that you have wrestled with and courageously surmounted before,” he said.

“Your spirit is strong. The United States stands ready to help, our embassies in the Philippines and Palau are in close contact with your government, and our most heartfelt prayers are with you,” he added.

US embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Brian Goldbeck offered condolences to families of fatalities.

Israel also extended its sympathies to Filipinos affected by the typhoon. Israeli Ambassador Menashe Bar On said his country is one with Filipinos “in these trying times.”

Filipino-American community leaders in the metropolitan Washington area organized a benefit concert also on Friday at $25 a head to help the typhoon victims.

Tenor Allan Palacios Chan and soprano Xi Wang were the main features at the well-attended evening concert, which began after a short prayer for typhoon victims.

Volunteers needed

As the extent of the devastation caused by Yolanda unraveled, Malacañang assured the public it has enough resources to help the victims but lacks volunteers to help in the relief efforts.

In a televised call for “cooperation and solidarity” Thursday night, President Aquino said he wished “to emphasize the gravity of the calamity” just as he did before the onslaught of Pablo, another super typhoon, last year.

“We have already gone through a lot this year; let us help, and ease the burdens, of our Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and their personnel. As always, no storm can bring a united Filipino people to its knees. It is my hope that we all stay safe in the coming days,” Aquino said.

Typhoon Pablo claimed close to 2,000 lives and caused much destruction when it struck Compostela Valley and other areas in Mindanao.

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said that on President Aquino’s “very specific instructions,” they pre-positioned relief goods in areas most affected.

“But anticipating that this is going to last long, we want to be ahead of the curve, so we’re trying to move as much relief goods as we can in anticipation of additional needs,” Almendras said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said a total of 1,223 evacuation centers have been set up to house more that 71,000 displaced families.

“We have to move fast, considering the extent of the devastation. People in the worst-hit areas need food, water and medicine,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Katigbak, Aurea Calica, Celso Amo, Zinnia de la Peña, Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan