ANILA
Turkey's humanitarian aid to Philippines, recently hit by one of the most massive calamities of the history, has reached the disaster area.
Four and a half million people have been affected by the Typhoon Haiyan which hit several central Philippine islands on Friday, leaving around 330 thousand left homeless, according to the United Nations.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay travelled to Philippines to visit the disaster area to see the humanitarian crisis on site on Monday.
Atalay made a statement in the capital Manila while the humanitarian aid was submitted to Philippine Red Cross officials, saying Turkey was ready to provide all kinds of aid for Philippines.
President of Philippine Red Cross Richard J. Gordon, on the other hand, thanked Atalay for the aid, adding the destitute people would be provided with the humanitarian aids.
Turkey's state-owned relief organization Turk Kizilayi (Red Crescent) has sent 65 tons of aid-- including food, kitchen equipments, blankets and tents-- to the disaster-hit Philippines on Monday.
Meanwhile, the typhoon which caused loss of lives and properties in Philippines also claimed eight lives in southern China and four other people were reported lost.
Local officials stated that the typhoon caused a 700 million USD economic loss in agriculture, forestry, poultry raising and fishing. Impact of Haiyan decreased in the south, but rain shower and storm are expected to continue for a while.
In addition, the US said it was sending the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and other American ships to help search and rescue efforts in Philippines as well as its humanitarian aid.
Canada sent a C-17 airplane carrying troops as well as equipment and essential materials on Tuesday, according to Canadian foreign ministry.
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