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A soldier carries one-day-old baby Ian Daniel Honrado to a waiting military transport plane at Tacloban city, central Philippines. Bullit Marquez/AP/Press Association Images

100 tonnes of Irish aid due to arrive in the Philippines

The UN estimates more than 11.3 million people have been affected with 673,000 made homeless, since Haiyan smashed into the nation’s central islands on Friday.

AN AIRLIFT OF over 100 tonnes of aid from Ireland is due to arrive in the Philippines today, as the international response to the tragedy and destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan gains momentum.

The shipment, valued at €510,000, contains 599 tents, 700 tarpaulins, 10,000 blankets and 880 ropes.

The supplies are in addition to the emergency funding of €1 million announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore on Sunday.

“On hearing of the scale of the disaster, I immediately authorised an airlift of emergency shelter items to the Philippines from Ireland’s pre-positioned stocks in the UN Humanitarian Depot in Dubai,” Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Joe Costello said.

“These essential supplies will be distributed by Plan Ireland, to alleviate the immediate needs of men, women and children affected by one of the most powerful storms ever recorded.”

The shipment left Dubai at around 6am this morning (Irish time) and is due to arrive in the Philippines at 6pm.

International effort

The UN estimates more than 11.3 million people have been affected with 673,000 made homeless, since Haiyan smashed into the nation’s central islands on Friday.

Overwhelmed and under-resourced rescue workers have been unable to provide food, water, medicines, shelter and other relief supplies to many survivors, however, and desperation has been building across the disaster zones.

Many countries have pledged help as part of an international relief effort. The United States and Britain are sending warships carrying thousands of sailors to the Philippines, and US amphibious craft were also being deployed.

All are expected to arrive over the next few days.

This article includes reporting from AFP

Related: Eight killed as mob storms Philippine rice store

Read: Filipino ambassador warned about typhoon devastation – last year

In Pictures: Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan attempt to leave Tacloban

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16 Comments
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:18 AM

    Well done on the quick response in getting supplies over to these people.
    They desperately need more ASAP and a million will only scratch the surface.

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    Mute Rigene Zapatos
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:56 AM

    Thank a billion to the Irish people.

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    Mute Rigene Zapatos
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:57 AM

    Thanks a billion.

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    Mute Yvonne Botha
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    Nov 13th 2013, 9:19 AM

    These poor people seriously need our help and support. My problems are nothing compared to what these people are going through. Huge respect to the volunteers helping.

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Nov 13th 2013, 9:48 AM

    Well said Yvonne.

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:29 AM

    Well done to everyone that has donated, volunteered in any way to help these poor people. I know servel departments from UCC are holding fundraising nights also to help the people. I know there is a table quiz next Tuesday in clancys bar so your support would be appreciated. I am supporting this as a collegue of our from work has lost friends in the city of Tacloban so we are doing everything to raise as much money as possible to donate to the red cross who are working in awful conditions..

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    Mute Dóchas
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    Nov 13th 2013, 9:12 AM

    Want to learn more about how international aid is coordinated?
    Turn to http://www.HowYouCanHelp.ie

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    Mute Ollie Walsh
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    Nov 13th 2013, 9:12 AM

    Would the journal please cop on and shut down comments… No need for this subject to be a platform for sick minded idiots….

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    Mute Jon De Castro Enerio
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    Nov 13th 2013, 2:19 PM

    Thank you so much Ireland.

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    Mute Rat Buster
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:11 AM

    When is Manny Pacquiao’s millions arriving?

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    Mute johnchampion1214
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:31 AM

    I have 100 million worth of Irish aid coming into Dublin this evening.

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    Mute Susie
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    Nov 13th 2013, 8:56 AM

    Ah, yis are hilarious, millions of people suffering, thousands dead… sure, the jokes just keep coming, don’t they? I’d love to see yous in that sort of situation, wouldn’t be so funny then, would it? Sick fckers.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Nov 13th 2013, 1:54 PM

    Is there any collection point in Ireland for goods to be sent over? I doubt it based on distance, but would like to know?

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    Mute Maria
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    Nov 13th 2013, 11:22 PM

    Paul – alot of the Filipino groups in Dublin are raising koney and sending it to people in neighbouring islands to Leyte(where Tacloban and Ormoc are) and are able to buy supplies there and are bringing it over by boat. Some of the groups that have done that hwve seen immediate aid get through, others who’ve sent money to NGO’S haven’t seen that money reach its destination.

    If you are in Dublin – Makati Avenue Filipino Restaurant is donating all the money they make on Saturday to relief funds. If people want to see the spirit and resilience of the Filipino people…pop in, try some food and help..they will also point you in the right direction for donation things like food, clothes etc

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    Mute Veronica
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    Nov 14th 2013, 8:55 AM
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