JAKARTA, 4 NOVEMBER 2020 – On November 2, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi, who also serves as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator wrote a Letter of Condolences to the Philippines’ Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana.
He expressed his deepest sympathies for the lives lost and widespread damage to the infrastructure as a result of Super Typhoon GONI.
During the Executive Briefing 4 November 2020 on the impacts of GONI organised by the The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), Usec. Ricardo B Jalad reported that 2 million affected people, 20 dead and 74 injured.
An estimated over 38000 houses are damaged, US$ 99 million worth of damages to agriculture, and US$ 41 million worth of damages to infrastructure.
At the briefing, Dato Lim conveyed to the Philippines that the ASEAN Secretariat and AHA Centre to render assistance, if requested.
He acknowledged Typhoon GONI as the most powerful typhoon to hit the country in 2020 to date amidst the COVID-19 pandemi. Typhoon GONI has also been compared to Typhoon Haiyan which devastated the area in 2013.
He further praised the Philippines’ Government efforts in preparedness to disasters, especially under the added challenge of COVID-19. He commended the government’s swift and decisive response in facing this disaster, as well as the preventive measures undertaken to reduce disaster losses.
“Guided by the spirit of the ASEAN Declaration on ‘One ASEAN, One Response, ASEAN stands in solidarity and support for the affected ASEAN Member States, ready to support the Government of Philippines through established regional mechanisms to bolster the humanitarian relief efforts and facilitate the recovery of the affected communities,” he said in his remarks.
The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) is ASEAN’s regionally coordinated and coherent framework toward effective disaster response, broader disaster management and risk reduction.
Further info on AADMER: ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Further info on AHA Centre: AHA Centre
