ADB pledges $3 mln for Philippines flood victims

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged 3 million U.S. dollars in support of emergency relief efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm "Ondoy" (international code name "Ketsana"), which inundated the Philippines over the weekend, causing the worst flooding in Manila in over 40 years, ADB announced on Wednesday.

ADB assistance will be used to provide clean water, health services, medical supplies and other essential emergency items to vulnerable families in need of assistance.

"The Philippines is ADB's home, and we are dedicated to helping flood-affected families through this unimaginably difficult time," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda.

"There are still thousands of families rendered homeless by the floods, and ADB will do whatever it can to support the government's efforts to provide them with the essential care they need," he added.

The 3-million-U.S.-dollar grant is being provided under ADB's emergency facility, the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which provides quick-disbursing grants to help restore essential life-saving services following disasters.


Source: Xinhua