Foreign condolences, aids pour to Philippines for typhoon-triggered havoc

The United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and some international institutions have sent condolences or assistance to the Philippines for the victims of typhoon Haiyan ( local name Yolanda). The United Kingdom on Sunday announced the provision of at least 414 million pesos (9.58 million U.S. dollars) to help the Philippine relief rescue for the victims in disaster-hit areas. Yolanda has wrought destruction across the Visayas region and other coastal areas, killing an estimated 10,000 people in Leyte province alone. British embassy in Manila said in a release, "On behalf of the Government and the people of the UK we offer our sincere condolences, support and friendship at this most trying time." The assistance from Britain is in addition to the 276 million pesos (6.38 million dollars) it earlier provided for Philippine emergency responses, said Justine Greening, UK's secretary for overseas development. Canada offered to provide 5 million Canadian dollars in support to humanitarian organizations striving to meet the needs of the people affected by this typhoon in the Philippines and surrounding regions, the country said in media release. Emergency relief activities will include the provision of emergency shelter, food, water, livelihood support, and other essential services, it added. The World Bank also expressed readiness on Sunday to extend assistance to the Philippines. In a statement, the lending agency offered its sincere condolences and sympathies to the people of the Philippines for the tragic loss of lives and the destruction as a result of the typhoon, saying "we stand ready to help in any way we can." European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso extended Sunday deepest sympathies to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the Filipino people for the tragic incident brought by super typhoon Haiyan. Barroso said that the European Commission has already sent a team to assist the Philippine authorities and "we stand ready to contribute with urgent relief and assistance if so required in this hour of need."