UN allocates 12 mln USD for Rai typhoon response in Philippines
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on December 23 announced a 12-million-USD rapid response allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support the response to Typhoon Rai in the Philippines.
UN allocates 12 mln USD for Rai typhoon response in Philippines (Photo: )
Hanoi (VNA) – UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and EmergencyRelief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on December 23 announced a 12-million-USD rapidresponse allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support theresponse to Typhoon Rai in the Philippines.
According to the UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the allocation will help 220,000 victimsof the typhoon through interventions in food, security, water and sanitationhygiene, camp management, shelter and logistics, as well as telecommunicationsin the hardest-hit Caraga region and Region VIII, said the UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Speaking at an onlinepress conference on the same day, UNresident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in the Philippines GustavoGonzalez said the UN would launch a humanitarian needs and priorities plan onDecember 24, which is expected to raise 6.5 million USD to support victims ofTyphoon Rai in the Philippines.
The amount will target 530,000 people in the worst-hit areas, Gonzalez said.
According to Gonzalez,some 3 million people in the Philippines need assistance,including 1 million children. A total of 631,000 people have beendisplaced and about 200,000 houses have been damaged, he noted, adding that peopleare in urgent need of emergency shelter, drinking water and food.
Super Typhoon Rai smashed into the Philippines on December16 packing wind speeds of 195 kilometres per hour, becoming one of the strongeststorms hitting the Southeast Asian nation in recent years.
The storm ravaged many areas in the central and southern regions, including Luzon island - the country's largest andmost populous island.
President Rodrigo Duterte on December 21 declared a state ofcalamit♎y in several regions to speed up relief efforts for victims of TyphoonRai./.
The death toll from Typhoon Rai - the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year - has risen to at least 75, according to official statistics announced by local authorities on December 19.
The death toll from Typhoon Rai that lashed the Philippines on December 16 has climbed to 375, according to the latest report by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Rescue activities in areas affected by typhoon Rai in the Philippines are facing difficulties due to transport disruption and the running out of necessities.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of calamity in several regions to speed up relief efforts for victims of typhoon Rai that ravaged central and southern Philippines last week.
The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 23 approved emergency use of a COVID-19 antiviral pill for adult patients at risk of developing severe illness, and a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
UN allocates 12 mln USD for Rai typhoon response in Philippines (Photo: ) 
