The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is willing to support the Philippines, which was freshly hit by giant typhoon Hagupit, in rebuilding efforts.

Hagupit wreaks havoc in Taft town, east of Samar on December 8

“ASEAN stands ready to assist the Philippines in the ongoing response to the disaster,” ASEAN’s Secretary General Le Luong Minh wrote in a letter delivered to Albert Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.

The ASEAN leader hailed the Philippine Government “for its early warning efforts and implementation of disaster preparedness plans which have prevented greater losses and damages.”

The Secretary General said ASEAN will work closely with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA) in a bid to constantly monitor the storm movement.

He informed that since December 4, ASEAN has implemented a range of activities assisting the calamity-hit country such as providing emergency telecommunication and logistics support for the deployment of relief items from ASEAN’s emergency stockpile in Malaysia and facilitating incoming assistance from other member states.

Giant tropical storm Hagupit recently swept through the Philippines, a country still recovering from super typhoon Haiyan last year. It killed at least 27 people and left a large community without homes and power

(Source: VNA)