Highlights
- 50 tonnes in food aid, medicines sent by the UAE to the Philippines.
- At least 14,000 people evacuated from around a Philippine volcano spewing lava and noxious gases.
- They may remain displaced from their homes for months, say officials.
Manila: Senior officials here thanked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the shipment of up to 50-tonnes of aid intended for Albay residents affected by the heightened unrest of the Mayon Volcano.
An Etihad Airways flight carrying food aid and medicines from the UAE landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday.
At least 14,000 residents in Albay province in eastern Philippines faced forced evacuation or are most impacted by Mayon Volcano’s restiveness, according to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Authorities said on Tuesday (June 13) that those evacuated from around the volcano spewing lava and noxious gases may remain displaced from their homes for months.
On Tuesday, incandescent lava was seen flowing slowly from the mouth of the 2,462m Mayon volcano, which was placed on a high alert level last week following seismic tremors and hundreds of rockfall events.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, along with Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista and DSWD Undersecretary Dianne Cajipe, received the UAE donation.
“We thank the UAE government and the Royal family for their generosity in sending the much-needed humanitarian aid for those affected by Mayon’s volcanic activities,” he said.
Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi, the UAE ambassador to the Philippines, was also present during the handover.
The humanitarian relief is meant for residents of Albay province, particularly those living within the 6-kilometre "danger zone" around the volcano who were forced to evacuate due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and ballistic fragments.
The assistance from the UAE helps the Philippine government in its efforts to prepare for and respond to disasters.
Gatchalian told the Philippine News Agency in Filipino: “The of DSWD, within 24 hours, is to send to these goods to Mayon area. On Wednesday morning, these will be at the hands of of Mayon victims,” Gatchalian told reporters at the NAIA Terminal 2.
Gatchalian said an additional 38,000 family food packs (FFPs) were turned over Sunday to the DSWD Bicol regional office which would be good for 15 days.
