Brunei sends disaster relief supplies to Philippines

The Royal Brunei Air Force's CN-235 airlifting essential supplies such as food, water, clothing and medical supplies took off from the Rimba Airforce Base Friday, while a Royal Brunei Navy vessel carrying aid departed from the Muara Navy Base for the typhoon-devastated central Philippine region of Tacloban. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Haji Abdullah said that it is the first batch of relief aid from Brunei. During the meeting on Thursday, the minister told officials to act swiftly in gathering all the necessities and welcomed members of the public to do their part by donating items such as bottled water, rice, canned food, dry food and infant formula at the designated locations across the country until November 28. The minister added that the National Disaster Management Centre is the focal point for coordinating efforts in the transportation of donated items and they will be constantly in touch with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and other agencies in the delivery of relief aid. The super Typhoon Haiyan, the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, affected millions of people after it made landfall last Friday and left a death toll that is expected to rise to 10,000. In a related development, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said Wednesday that it will offer its strongest support in the work of recovery in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines. "The Association will offer its strongest support in the work of recovery and in restoring hope and confidence to the people of our community who have experienced such terrible personal loss", said an ASEAN chairman statement on the impact of typhoon Haiyan on the Philippines. International donations and supplies are being flown in the worst-hit Tacloban.