Australia's response to Typhoon Haiyan

9 December 2013

Category

Development

The Australian Government will provide a further $10 million in humanitarian assistance to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, bringing Australia's total assistance package to $40 million.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the additional funding during a visit to the Philippines. Ms Bishop travelled to Ormoc and Tacloban in the Visayan Islands region, which was severely damaged by Typhoon Haiyan, the world's strongest typhoon to make landfall. Ms Bishop met with the Australian medical team based in Tacloban and Australian Defence Force personnel working on relief and recovery efforts in Ormoc and surrounding areas.

Almost 15 million people were affected by Typhoon Haiyan, with more than four million people left homeless. Those who survived the typhoon remain in desperate need of clean water, shelter and health care.

Minister Bishop's announcement of a further $10 million in humanitarian relief brings Australia's total contribution to $40 million. This additional assistance includes:

$3 million to assist the United Nations Children's Fund to provide clean water and sanitation, and rehabilitate damaged schools
$1 million to the United Nations Population Fund for health and hygiene support and supplementary feeding for pregnant and lactating women
$2 million to assist the World Health Organisation provide emergency health care and help restore the public health system, particularly in Tacloban
$3 million to Filipino non-government organisations to assist them provide shelter and livelihoods support to those affected by this devastating event
$1 million for transport, medical stores and costs associated with the Australian field hospital in Tacloban.

Ms Bishop thanked the Australian health, defence, aid, consular and other officials who have responded to the Philippine Government's requests, and the Australian public, who have given generously by donating more than $13 million dollars to aid agencies.

During her visit to the Philippines, Ms Bishop also met with Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and other Cabinet members In Manila to discuss the Philippines' recovery and reconstruction needs, as well as broader bilateral and regional issues.