US pledges additional P182M aid for Marawi

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has provided an additional P182 million ($3.5 million) worth of aid to support humanitarian relief in wartorn Marawi City.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim made the announcement Thursday, bringing Washington's total contribution to Marawi to nearly P1.4 billion ($26.4 million).

The additional financial assistance will be used to build transitional shelters for 58,000 internally displaced persons through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Philippine government and humanitarian organizations.

"This is obviously very important work and we hope to do more in the coming years," Kim said in a press conference.

This demonstrates "the deep ties and unbreakable bond between the United States and the Philippines as friends, partners, and allies."

USAID is also eyeing to work with the national and local government to start projects that would expand protection services for women and children, create income-generating activities for the local economy and repair water and sanitation facilities.

"The US government, through USAID, has been a key partner to the Philippine government in the recovery, stabilization, and rehabilitation of Marawi City and its surrounding areas," the US Embassy said in a media release.

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Since the conflict in Marawi broke out last year, the US has been actively working to improve conditions in evacuation centers such as providing maternal, newborn and child health supplies and services for affected communities.

In March, the US announced assistance worth P100 million for food security in Marawi. In partnership with the World Food Programme, USAID provided 1.8 million kilograms of rice, which would feed an estimated 45,000 people for four months. — Patricia Lourdes Viray