Foreign aid keep pouring into typhoon-hit Phl

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Foreign assistance continued to pour into the Philippines after the country experienced its most devastating typhoon which has killed at least 2,360 people in the central provinces.

The country has received assistance totaling P5.48 billion ($126.8 million) by Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the funding came from 43 countries and international institutions.

The European Union (EU) has announced the first tranche of humanitarian assistance of P170 million ($3.9 million). A further $570 million ($13.1 million) has already been committed for reconstruction efforts.

In addition, EU member states are individually providing very substantial further relief funding and have been flying in plane loads of emergency supplies from Europe. The total value of assistance from the EU and its member states is over 60 million euros or 3.4 billion pesos.

The South Korean government has pledged $5 million in comprehensive assistance to aid the survivors and victims of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).  

In addition, the country is to dispatch on Friday a disaster relief team composed of 20 medical personnel, 14 paramedics and four staff members of the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

Japan decided on Friday to extend additional Emergency Grant Aid of $20 million for the typhoon-hit areas. Earlier, the country offered aid of $10 million.