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Indonesia and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is headquartered here, have demonstrated quick move in helping the Philippines which is now facing devastating moment after being hit by super typhoon "Haiyan " that took thousands of its people and destroyed its infrastructure.
The delivery of Indonesian relief aids to the Philippines commenced on Wednesday, using the country's military cargo plane C- 130 Hercules, conducted in several sorties.
Indonesia departed 75 tons of logistics and supplies that comprised of power generators, blankets, tents, instant foods, medical supplies and volunteers after making active contacts with Philippine authorities in determining necessities needed by survivors in the affected areas.
Indonesia has ordered its disaster mitigation agency of BNPB, volunteers, related ministries and skilled rescuers to join in national search and rescue agency of BASARNAS to facilitate the sending of relief aids to areas affected by the strike of the strongest typhoon recorded in modern history that claimed more than 2,300 lives according to latest report.
In the latest catastrophe that hit neighboring country of the Philippines, Indonesia has also allocated 2 million U.S. dollars worth of relief aids that consisted of 1 million U.S. dollars of cash channeled through banking mechanism and logistics and supplies.
Indonesia previously sent relief aids worth 400,000 U.S. dollars in the event of flood and landslide in the Philippines in 2011 and another 500,000 U.S. dollars in relief aids when the country was hit by typhoon "Washi" in the same year.
Earlier this year, Indonesia sent 1 million U.S. dollars of funds, rice, logistics and supplies and personnel to help people of the Philippines when typhoon "Bopha" hit that country.
BNPB Spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the quick sending of relief aids to the Philippines shows Indonesia's solidarity to the fellow ASEAN country.
Meanwhile, ASEAN secretary general Le Luong Minh, who also acts as the coordinator of ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance (AHA), said on Tuesday that the AHA center has prepared supplies and logistics ready to be delivered to the affected areas anytime.
AHA Center Executive Director Said Faisal said the center has been closely monitoring the movement of typhoon "Haiyan" and put a field team on the ground before the typhoon landed on Nov. 8.
Faisal said assessment and additional teams have been on the ground to determine the type of assistance that can be mobilized through the ASEAN channel.
ASEAN also took precautionary steps should the typhoon severely hit another ASEAN member Vietnam.
"ASEAN stands ready to assist Vietnam if requested, and will continue to work closely with the AHA Center to facilitate ASEAN's response to assist Vietnam in the ongoing response to the disaster, " Le said.
The Philippines authorities said the typhoon has cost the country more than 14 billion U.S. dollars in damages to infrastructure and public facilities. The United Nations estimated that impact of the disaster may affect more than 10 million people in the Philippines.
