New York - The United Nations on Tuesday appealed for 74 million dollars to provide immediate help to more than 1 million Filipinos whose livelihoods are severely affected by back-to-back tropical storms. The UN humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator in New York, John Holmes, said the funds are needed to provide life- saving assistance. The UN has already disbursed 7 million dollars from its own emergency response fund before seeking a much larger amount.
The Philippines suffered destruction and deaths from tropical storms Ketsana and Parma. The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council said 295 people had been killed as of Tuesday and more than 3.9 million people have been displaced by Ketsana. Parma has caused at least 19 deaths.
"As often in these kind of disasters, it is the most vulnerable who are worst affected," Holmes said in calling for the donation.
