The United States government is providing $750,000 (at least P33 million) in aid and emergency humanitarian assistance to victims of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).
In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila also commended the Philippine government for its preparations for Ruby as well as its successful response in the cyclone's wake.
"In close coordination with the government of the Philippines, the United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s Office for Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), will provide aid for emergency humanitarian assistance. This assistance totals $750,000 (P33,408,750)," it said.
Ruby tore through Visayas and south Luzon, making landfall six times last weekend. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Ruby left at least 19 dead.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy lauded the Philippine government on its "extensive preparations" leading up to Ruby, and its "successful response."
It also offered condolences for the lives lost. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims," it said.
The embassy said it helped track the typhoon before it made landfall, and worked under the direction of the Philippines treaty ally in monitoring Ruby's trajectory.
Almost immediately after Ruby's first landfall, the embassy said USAID and US Pacific Command assessment teams were available to augment US Embassy Manila’s capabilities to monitor Ruby's impact.
"These teams also coordinated with government agencies and humanitarian organizations an emergency response on the ground. As President Obama stated last year in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda, '[W]hen our friends are in trouble, America helps,'” it said.
Also, the embassy said the successful response to Ruby featured close cooperation between representatives from USAID, the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the US military.
It said the US military "worked with the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct initial assessments of conditions and needs in the hardest hit areas."
Such coordination "clearly showed that the repeated humanitarian and disaster assistance training and exercises between our two countries is an important part of our relationship," US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said.
Meanwhile, the embassy said the US government through USAID continues to work closely with the Philippine government and communities in hazard-prone areas to "better prepare for and respond to the effects of disasters."
In 2014, USAID/OFDA provided about $9.5 million (P423,177,500) for disaster risk reduction programs in the Philippines.
Such programs build community resilience and further strengthen national disaster management capacity.
This includes $500,000 (P22,272,500) in 2014 funding to the United Nations World Food Program to provide logistical support to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development to deliver relief to disaster-affected families.
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