– More than 100 tons of Irish Aid emergency shelter supplies, including tents, blankets and tarpaulins arrived in the Philippines to assist thousands of families affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The Irish airlift, valued at €510,000 contains: 599 tents, 700 tarpaulins, 10,000 blankets, 880 ropes. The supplies are in addition to the emergency funding of €1 million towards the relief effort announced by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore.
Announcing the dispatch of the emergency supplies, Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., said, “These essential supplies will be distributed by Plan Ireland, to alleviate the immediate needs of men, women and children affected by one of the most powerful storms ever recorded”. On hearing of the scale of the disaster, Minister Costello immediately authorised an airlift of emergency shelter items to the Philippines from Ireland’s pre-positioned stocks in the UN Humanitarian Depot in Dubai.
– European Commission sent another 8 million euro in addition to the 3 million euro sent last Sunday for emergency relief operations. Minister-President Kris Peeters also donated 150,000 euro in behalf of the Flemish government.
– It is the first time that OCHA, the United Nations Humanitarian coordinator, appeals to the Humanitarian Digital Network. That global umbrella organization for digital volunteering, where thousands of people are actively searching and translates relevant Twitter and Facebook messages, edit maps and statistics and translate emergency messages.
The Belgians make a significant contribution within the Humanitarian Digital Network. Bert Brugghemans, fire chief and volunteer in Antwerp told De Morgen that Belgium is in the top three of volunteers worldwide. They processed a total of 150 tweets per minute and the informations they gathered went straight to B-FAST and the UN relied on it .
– In memory of those who died from the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan on 8 November 2013 in the Philippines, a Condolence Book will be open for signing to the Filipino Community and those who wish to extend their sympathy to the victims: Monday, 18 November – Thursday, 21 November 2013; 1400H – 1700H, Philippine Embassy, Laan Copes van Cattenburch 125, 2585 EZ The Hague, The Netherlands.
Philippine Embassy in Belgium: 297 Avenue Moliere, 1050 Brussels. Signing in Condolence Book is open during office hours 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Please feel free to visit any Philippine Embassy in Europe to give your sympathy messages.
– Filipino communities in Belgium are collecting relief goods in cash and in kind for the victims of Super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. Johan De Pelsmaeker from Erpe-Mere and his Filipino wife Elvie are hoping that by the end of next week, a container full of goods will be leaving Belgium for the Philippines. Other organizations like Knights & Ladies of Rizal, Belgische-Filippijnse Solidariteit and Mesa Filipino Restaurant in Brussels will also donate profits of sales, concert and “party for a cause” to the victims.
Let us keep praying for our people and nation. I’ll see you again on Monday, same time, same station. Take care everyone!
