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UN / GING PHILIPPINES TYPHOON
STORY: UN / GING PHILIPPINES TYPHOON
TRT: 2.28
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS
DATELINE: 11 NOVEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters
11 NOVEMBER 2013, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, dais
3. Wide shot, journalists
4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Ging, Director of the Operation Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“We now have come to understand that almost 9.8 million people have been affected by this tragedy, and the scale of the devastation. It’s the biggest typhoon recorded in almost a century. So, as we expect when you have such fierce wind and rains, the devastation has been huge.”
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Ging, Director of the Operation Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“We are focused on, as you would expect, first and foremost, the requirements for food, the requirements for shelter support, the requirements for medical support, and to prevent the outbreak of public health disasters, with so many people, estimated now over 10,000 people perished, and so getting those who have been killed buried, and because the places, many places are strewn with dead bodies. Also overcoming the logistical constraints; so much damage to infrastructure, roads impassable, airports affected, and you know, the scale of devastation also impacts on the capacity to get aid where they most need it.”
7. Med shot, journalists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) John Ging, Director of the Operation Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“The scale of devastation is massive and therefore it will require a mobilization of massive response. The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos is on her way to the Philippines, she’s just announced the release of 25 million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund, and that is to enable humanitarian agencies to mobilize their response as quickly as feasible.”
9. Wide shot, end of press conference
The United Nations humanitarian affairs office today (11 November) released an initial $25 million from the world body’s emergency fund in quick response to the devastation caused by the super typhoon Haiyan which ripped through the Philippines over the weekend.
In a news briefing in New York, the Director of the Operation Division for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, John Ging, said that “almost 9.8 million people have been affected by this tragedy” and noted that is “the biggest typhoon recorded in almost a century.”
Ging said “as we expect when you have such fierce wind and rains, the devastation has been huge.”
The Director said the main priorities are “the requirements for food, the requirements for shelter support, the requirements for medical support, and to prevent the outbreak of public health disasters.”
He noted that with over 10,000 people estimated dead, “getting those who have been killed buried” was also a priority, and added that “many places are strewn with dead bodies.”
Ging also highlighted the logistical constraints and said that with “so much damage to infrastructure, roads impassable, airports affected,” the scale of devastation “also impacts on the capacity to get aid where they most need it.”
The funds were released from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) are “to enable humanitarian agencies to mobilize their response quickly.”
According to OCHA, UN agencies and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will use CERF funding to provide emergency food assistance, supply emergency shelter materials and household items, assist with the provision of emergency health services, safe water supplies and sanitation facilities for the most vulnerable.
The funding will also be used for critical protection, nutrition and emergency activities, camp coordination and management, and logistics to enable a coordinated rapid relief response.
In a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Philippines this morning, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered his condolences for all those who have suffered as a result of the disaster and re-affirmed the support and solidarity of the UN.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos is set to arrive to the country tomorrow to launch a flash appeal in Manila, the capital.
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