MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
Australia has offered $1 million in immediate relief and medical assistance
to victims of the landslide in the southern Philippines.
The funds will be made available to the Philippines National Red Cross and
other key relief agencies to assist with the most immediate tasks of evacuating
survivors, setting up shelters and trauma counselling, as well as meeting the
more basic needs of food, clothing and related emergency items.
Australia offers condolences to the families of the victims. Australian
officials are closely monitoring reports from the Philippines Government and
the Red Cross and stand ready to offer additional assistance if necessary.
The landslide which has engulfed the village of Guinsaugon in the southern
Leyte province followed two weeks of heavy rain in the region. The village had
a population of 2,500 and 385 houses, including an occupied primary school.
Only three houses remain.
Early estimates by the Philippines National Red Cross and the United Nations
put the estimated death toll at 200, with another 1,500 people missing. However
this figure is expected to rise given the area had a broader population of 3000
and heavy rains continue, hampering rescue efforts.
Australia and the Philippines are close regional partners and the two
countries share an interest in reducing poverty and improving stability and
security in the Philippines.
Australia's aid program in the Philippines focuses on economic
governance, strengthening security and stability through counter-terrorism
cooperation and raising the living standards of the rural poor in the south of
the country.
Australia, through its international aid agency AusAID has allocated $63.7
million in overseas development assistance to the Philippines in 2005-06.
Media inquiries:
AusAID (Public Affairs) 0417 680 590
Nikki Voss for Mrs Teresa Gambaro, Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs 0438171330