October 22, 2009 17:08 PM

WFP Head Pledges Full Support To Philippines

MANILA, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The head of the United Nations World Food Program Josette Sheeran has pledged the agency's full support to the Philippines as the government and tens of thousands of Filipinos seek to deal with the effects of the violent storms that devastated parts of the country last month.

"WFP is here to support the government's efforts to help the people of the Philippines overcome this calamity. I have no doubt that together, we can," Executive Director Sheeran said on Thursday in a statement, reported China's Xinhua news agency.

The Philippines was battered by two successive storms in September -- tropical storm "Ketsana" (also known as Ondoy) and typhoon "Parma" -- which led to more than 500 deaths and displaced scores of thousands of others, and caused crop damage estimated at over US$160 million.

Sheeran, together with President Arroyo and WFP's National Ambassador Against Hunger and actress KC Concepcion, toured some of the hardest hit communities and helped distribute vital food rations on Wednesday.

"I travelled by boat in an area 65 km north of Manila where I saw the entire neighbourhoods literally inundated with waist-high stagnant water, and met people who have lost all of their belongings -- furniture, clothes, food -- and are now receiving vital help from the Philippine government and humanitarian agencies like WFP," she said.

As part of the UN's humanitarian response, WFP is providing food relief and logistics support with helicopters, trucks, boats and telecommunications equipment to reach and connect to isolated areas.

The agency is initially providing critical food to more than 1 million of the 8 million people affected by the floods. It is also coordinating with national authorities to ensure a seamless transition from emergency relief to recovery.

Sheeran voiced her confidence that the country and its people will overcome this calamity.

"The floods have damaged, homes, businesses and crops, but they have not dampened the great spirit and resilience of the Filipino people," she said.

-- BERNAMA

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