Australia to provide further support to Phl: PM

CANBERRA (Xinhua) - The Australian government will provide almost $18.61 million and deploy additional Australian Defence Force logistic support to help the Philippines to respond to Typhoon Haiyan, bringing total Australian assistance to almost $27.91 million, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Thursday.

The prime minister said the additional funds will be used to address serious nutrition, child health and protection needs, purchase emergency foods and provide logistic support and non-food items.

"As a good friend and neighbor, Australia stands beside the Philippines as it deals with this humanitarian disaster," Abbott said in a statement.

According to the arrangement, two Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, a C-17A Globemaster and a C-130J Hercules, have already been deployed to the Philippines to assist the relief effort. Both arrived in the Philippines overnight, transporting Australian doctors, nurses, paramedics, other medical specialists, and ADF logistic support staff.

And a statement from the Australian government said the defence had also assigned an additional RAAF C-130J Hercules and stands ready to deploy a second C-17A Globemaster if required.

In addition,Royal Australian Navy will also provide support. HMAS Tobruk has been diverted from her current tasking to be available to support the relief and recovery effort if requested by the government of the Philippines.

HMAS Tobruk is ideally suited to assist given her amphibious heavy lift capability, on board accommodation and ability to support helicopter and landing craft operations.