Gordon elicits international aid for Leyte landslide victims

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman and Senator Richard J. Gordon said yesterday that the international community has pledged financial aid, as well as support for the rescue and relief operations being undertaken for the landslide victims in Southern Leyte.

Gordon said that just hours after the tragedy that completely buried a village in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, the United States government immediately donated PhP 2.9 Million and pledged another $ 50,000 to the PNRC for the purchase of relief goods like food and medicine. The US Embassy in Manila has also confirmed the US government’s assistance for rescue and relief operations,” Gordon revealed.

In response to Gordon’s appeal for help to the international community through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has also pledged financial support and immediately released CHF 200,000. Locally, the Philip Morris and Smart Communications are set to release financial assistance for the landslide victims.

“Two K-9 teams have been deployed this morning together with communications specialists, trauma and psychological teams with food packs, medicines, blankets, body bags, generators and other rescue equipment to support the PNRC disaster teams from Leyte, Iloilo, Cebu deployed in the are since yesterday and tonight we are expecting the arrival of the mining rescue teams from Baguio and Benguet to assist in the retrieval and recovery efforts,” Gordon said.

“Yet another catastrophe has been dealt the Philippines, which once again underscored the need for the government to bolster our disaster-mitigation policies and programs in order to reduce casualty figures in future disasters,” said Gordon.

The PNRC chair thanked the IFRC, US Government, other international donors and all those who are helping in the rescue and relief operations for their quick response to the disaster.

“Man-made and natural disasters bring out the best in man,” said Gordon. “Just as the Philippines is always ready to help other nations in their time of need, we also welcome help from our neighbors at this point in time.”

Gordon also assured the PNRC’s continuing effort to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the mudslide while commending the Red Cross volunteers for their readiness to swiftly respond to crisis situations.