The donation comes after the Philippines sends an inter-agency disaster response team to Turkey
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives handed over on Monday, February 13, financial assistance amounting to $100,000 to Turkey’s ambassador to the Philippines, to help survivors of the devastating earthquake that rocked the Middle East country on February 6.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez met with Turkey’s Niyazi Evren Akyo in Batasang Pambansa to turn over the financial aid, which came from the Speaker’s Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Initiative.
“The Filipino people has benefitted so much from the compassion of Turkish volunteers,” Romualdez said. “We will be here with you as Turkey was always with us in Haiyan (Yolanda) and all the other disasters.”
“The very fact that you thought about this is enough for us. And your generosity is most heart-warming and touching in this hour of need,” the Turkish diplomat added.
A press release by Romualdez’s office on Sunday, February 12, noted that Turkey was among the first country-responders in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded.
Yolanda’s death toll was placed at more than 6,000, with many more missing. Thousands of families were displaced. One of the provinces it hit hardest was Leyte, which is represented by Romualdez.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake, which hit before sunrise on February 6, was the worst to strike Turkey this century. It was followed in the early afternoon by another earthquake of magnitude 7.8.
The death toll keeps growing, and has exceeded 34,000 across southern Turkey and northwest Syria, as of Monday, February 13.
The Philippines also sent an inter-agency disaster response team to Turkey. The Department of Health sent 31 medical personnel, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines sent 30 soldiers.
– Rappler.com
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