ShareThisUS warship with food, medicines arrive in Leyte Gulf
WASHINGTON/MANILA (PhilAmPress/PinoyNews) — US President Barack Obama has called on Americans to donate money to support the survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” which ripped through the Visayas, killing some 10,000 people, destroying houses, town halls, schools, crops and infrastructures.
This as a US warship, escorted by several ships with transport planes and airplanes on board, with relief goods, medicines and other needs arrived at the Leyte Gulf from Singapore and Japan to extend assistance. Some 1,000 US Marines will be deployed to help the Filipinos in the region.
The US government had initially committed $20 million in food and medicines and other needs as about 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, have sent or sending their assistance to the Philippines.
Several international organizations like the United Nations, UNICEF, Asian Development Bank and others have also committed support.
This developed as President Benigno S. Aquino III has come under sharp criticism from international media like CNN and New York Times and from Filipinos themselves for the perceived slow pace in extending food, water and other assistance, in clearing the roads of debris and the bodies that littered the streets and with the debris.
While the death toll has been estimated by UN groups at 10,000, relying on a police official’s report, official figures are only in the neighborhood of 4,500, although many have not been accounted for due to lack of communication and transportation.
Thousands of residents of Tacloban City and nearby areas which were badly battered by the supertyphoon are desperately trying to leave the province, lining up for transport with the Navy ships and the Philippine Air Force cargo planes, but many have not been accommodated. They said that the city lacked food and water and they feared for their lives due to rampant looting.
Distribution of relief goods went faster on the fifth day after the disaster as more goods arrive and more vehicles become available to ferry the goods and aid even to the remotest areas.
President Aquino was set to make a second visit to the typhoon-ravaged provinces of Leyte and Samar on Saturday to supervise the ongoing relief operations and rehabilitation work.
Obama bewailed “awful destruction” of the typhoon, considered one of the most powerful on record, and directed Americans to the White House website where they could link up with aid organizations working to alleviate the suffering.
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of the Philippines as they mourn so many loved ones and neighbors lost in the awful destruction of Typhoon Haiyan,” Obama said.
“The friendship between our two countries runs deep, and when our friends are in trouble, America helps,” Obama said in a statement released by White House.
“With so many families and communities in the Philippines in urgent need of food, water, shelter and medicine, even small contributions can make a big difference and help save lives,” he said.
U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington has arrived in the vicinity of the Leyte Gulf Thursday to assist the Philippine government in response to the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Haiyan, the US Navy said.
The Commander Task Force 70, which is a part of the Seventh Fleet, said on its website that the carrier has completed its high-speed transit and will go to a position just off the eastern coast of Samar island with the cruisers USS Antietam and USS Cowpens, in order to begin to assess the damage and provide logistical and emergency support to include medical and water supplies.
In preparation to provide relief support, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 flew a number of fixed winged aircraft to Naval Air Facility Atsugi Thursday morning creating more room on the carrier’s flight deck for helicopter operations.
“One of the best capabilities the Strike Group brings is our 21 helicopters. These helicopters represent a good deal of lift to move emergency supplies around,” said Mark Montgomery, commander of the George Washington Strike Group.
On Monday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered the George Washington and other U.S. Navy ships to head for the Philippines to aid disaster relief efforts there.
Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement that the aircraft carrier, which carries 5,000 sailors and more than 80 aircraft, is currently in Hong Kong for a port visit.
In company with the carrier are the cruisers USS Antietam and USS Cowpens, and the destroyer USS Mustin. The supply ship USNS Charles Drew is already underway and will rendezvous with the group as they get closer. USS Lassen got underway Sunday for the region.
Embarked on board USS George Washington is Carrier Air Wing Five, which has a collection of aircraft designed to perform various functions including disaster relief and includes Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 flying the MH-60R Seahawk.
The Pentagon said these ships and aircraft will be able to provide humanitarian assistance, supplies, and medical care in support of the ongoing efforts led by the government and military of the Philippines. The ships should be on station within 48-72 hours.
Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on Friday and Saturday. An estimated 10,000 people in central Philippine province of Leyte might have been killed.