President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on November 10 sent condolences to Philippine President Benigno S.Aquino III over the great human and property losses caused by super-typhoon Haiyan.

In their messages, the Vietnamese leaders affirmed that Viet Nam  always stands side by side with the Philippine people at this difficult time.

They announced that Viet Nam  will send initial emergency aid worth 100,000 USD to the Philippines and consider other practical measures to help typhoon victims.

The leaders also expressed hope that the Philippine people will be able to surmount the disaster’s aftermaths and restore their lives.

The same day, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh conveyed condolences to his Philippine counterpart Albert F.Del Rosario.

The international community has committed to helping the country surmount the serious consequences of typhoon Haiyan.

The United Nations on November 10 sent experts to Tacloban city, which was directly hit by the typhoon, to assess the losses and prepare for organising international relief activities.

As many as 60 tonnes of medical equipment and tents are scheduled to be brought to the Philippines on November 12 by the UN Children’s Fund.

The UK Government pledged 9.6 million USD in aid for the Philippines, while the Canadian Government said they will fund about 4.7 million USD through the supply of such essential goods as blankets, mosquito nets, food, clean water and medicine.

The European Commission will provide the Philippine people with emergency aid worth 3 million EUR.

The New Zealand government announced an initial aid package worth 125,000 USD while the country’s Red Cross plans to donate 412,000 USD.

Super-typhoon Haiyan, the strongest cyclone of this year in the world, made landfall over central Philippine localities on November 8. It is feared that casualties from the typhoon can reach 10,000, mostly in Tacloban city. Another 4.4 million people are facing homeless after their houses are destroyed in the disaster.

Haiyan on early November 11 landed in northern Viet Nam , causing heavy rains and strong wind in the region.

In the next 12 hours, it is forecast to move northward at a speed of 15-20 km per hour, heading to south China and weakening to a depression.

(Source: VNA)