The United States has provided a financial aid of 260,000 dollars and has airlifted blankets, water and water purification and dispensing equipment to the Philippines after it was hit by a landslide, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said at a briefing on Tuesday.

Over 1,600 U.S. military personnel and 16 helicopters are helping in the search and rescue efforts in the country, Ereli said.

"The United States has been very moved and is very concerned by the tragedy in the Philippines," Ereli said.

U.S. President George W. Bush called his Philippine counterpart Gloria Arroyo on Monday and promised that the United States would provide sustained help after the country was hit by a devastating landslide in which over 100 people had been confirmed killed.

Source: Xinhua