UN allocates 12 mln USD for Rai typhoon response in Philippines
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on December 23 announced a 12-million-USD rapid response allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support the response to Typhoon Rai in the Philippines.
UN allocates 12 mln USD for Rai typhoon response in Philippines (Photo: )
Hanoi (VNA) – UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and EmergencyRelief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on December 23 announced a 12-million-USD rapidresponse allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support theresponse to Typhoon Rai in the Philippines.
According to the UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the allocation will help 220,000 victimsof the typhoon through interventions in food, security, water and sanitationhygiene, camp management, shelter and logistics, as well as telecommunicationsin the hardest-hit Caraga region and Region VIII, said the UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Speaking at an onlinepress conference on the same day, UNresident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in the Philippines GustavoGonzalez said the UN would launch a humanitarian needs and priorities plan onDecember 24, which is expected to raise 6.5 million USD to support victims ofTyphoon Rai in the Philippines.
The amount will target 530,000 people in the worst-hit areas, Gonzalez said.
According to Gonzalez,some 3 million people in the Philippines need assistance,including 1 million children. A total of 631,000 people have beendisplaced and about 200,000 houses have been damaged, he noted, adding that peopleare in urgent need of emergency shelter, drinking water and food.
Super Typhoon Rai smashed into the Philippines on December16 packing wind speeds of 195 kilometres per hour, becoming one of the strongeststorms hitting the Southeast Asian nation in recent years.
The storm ravaged many areas in the central and southern regions, including Luzon island - the country's largest andmost populous island.
President Rodrigo Duterte on December 21 declared a state ofcalamity in several regions to speed up relief efforts for victims 🐓of TyphoonRai./.
The death toll from Typhoon Rai - the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year - has risen to at least 75, according to official statistics announced by local authorities on December 19.
The death toll from Typhoon Rai that lashed the Philippines on December 16 has climbed to 375, according to the latest report by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Rescue activities in areas affected by typhoon Rai in the Philippines are facing difficulties due to transport disruption and the running out of necessities.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of calamity in several regions to speed up relief efforts for victims of typhoon Rai that ravaged central and southern Philippines last week.
The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 23 approved emergency use of a COVID-19 antiviral pill for adult patients at risk of developing severe illness, and a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
UN allocates 12 mln USD for Rai typhoon response in Philippines (Photo: ) 
