US gives additional $4.5M for Marawi aid
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:48:39 +0000
THE United States will provide an additional $4.5 million (P234 million) worth of humanitarian assistance for persons displaced by the five-month siege in Marawi City.
The US Embassy in Manila announced this on Thursday, as the contribution raises Washington’s aid in Marawi to more than $63.6 million (P3.4 billion).
The additional funding will come from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and will help about 50,000 internally displaced persons in Marawi City and 9,000 in the province of Maguindanao.
“The US government remains committed to supporting the Philippine government in helping restore normalcy in the lives of the Filipinos affected by the Marawi conflict,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said in a statement.
“This new assistance reflects the strong bond between the US and the Philippines as friends, partners and allies,” Kim added.
New resources from Washington will also provide emergency shelter assistance to 2,600 individuals, in addition to nearly 33,000 individuals who previously benefited from the assistance, the US Embassy said.
The embassy added that USAID would “deepen its existing efforts within Marawi City and Lanao del Sur province to expand water and sanitation services and enhance safe spaces to protect women and children from exploitation and violence.”
The new funding will also augment the ongoing support of the US to the Philippines in providing “life-saving aid and improving economic and social conditions for vulnerable populations.”
US is among countries that provided assistance for the rehabilitation of Marawi City. Various nations have also sent aid including China, Thailand, Japan, European Union, among others. DEMPSEY REYES
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