The United States and South Korea on Saturday announced a total of USD2.5 million (approximately PHP145 million) worth of humanitarian assistance to augment the Philippines’ response efforts in the aftermath of Typhoons Tino (Kalmaegi) and Uwan (Fung-wong).

The US Embassy in Manila said on Saturday that Washington would provide an additional USD1.5 million to support Philippine government-led operations in affected areas, bringing its total assistance to the country to USD2.5 million.

The aid will cover support for logistics, emergency shelter, water, sanitation resources, and the management of evacuation centers.

“As millions of Filipinos face the challenges left by these overlapping disasters, including the Cebu earthquake in September, our continued rapid response stands as a testament to the depth of the enduring ties between the United States and the Philippines, especially in times of crisis,” it said.

The US military earlier deployed its assets to transport emergency relief items upon the request of the Philippine government.

The Korean Embassy in Manila, in a separate statement, said its USD1 million aid would be coursed through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the speedy recovery of victims.

“Our thoughts are with the families and communities recovering from the extensive damage across the country,” it said.

“We hope this support will help speed up relief operations and contribute to bringing affected communities back to normal as soon as possible. Korea continues to stand by the Filipino people during this challenging time.” (PNA)