HUMANITARIAN AID DELIVERY FOR TYPHOON HAIYAN VICTIMS IN PHILIPPINES 

On 15 November 2013, Brunei has rendered further aid to the Philippines by sending its first relief team of personnel to typhoon-ravaged Tacloban to provide assistance at the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA) in distributing food and water to disaster victims.  

This mission comprised of the delivery of humanitarian aid in the form of basic essential items such as bottled mineral water, dry food, canned food, rice, infant formula, medical equipment, medicines, clothing, blankets and towels which were donated by a combination of effort from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Health, Royal Brunei Armed Forces, National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), the public, private sector and non-governmental bodies.

The relief team left the country onboard Royal Brunei Armed Forces' aircraft, CN235 and will remain in the affected area for a week.

A communications officer at the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) Centre lauded Brunei's swift response in sending relief goods and supporting ASEAN operations. In fact, among the very first ASEAN responders to the affected area were two members from the ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team in Brunei.

The relief team will assist in facilitating the distribution of aid from Brunei to the Philippines. Further updates will be monitored from time to time through the AHA Centre and the Brunei Embassy in Manila.

Royal Brunei Armed Forces sent relief aid from Brunei to affected areas in the Philippines by air and sea cargo. The first two batches of relief was delivered by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces' military transport aircraft and the royal Brunei Navy ship, respectively on 15 November 2013. Brunei Darussalam continues its batch of humanitarian aids by air until 25 November 2013 and by sea until 09 December 2013.