Premier Greg Selinger has pledged support on behalf of the Province of Manitoba to the people of the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
“The lives of thousands of families have been forever changed by what is being called one of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit landfall,” the premier said. “Our thoughts are with those families today as they face such unimaginable loss and devastation.”
The Red Cross estimates Typhoon Haiyan has killed at least 1,000 and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
Selinger pledged $100,000 in support to the Manitoba Council for International Co-operation (MCIC), which will ensure the funding will be used for aid and reconstruction in the Philippines. The premier made the commitment following a meeting with Junever Mahilum-West, consul general of the Philippines, Friday afternoon.
Manitoba is home base for a number of organizations that do relief and development work overseas. The province has developed a unique arrangement that funds these organizations through the MCIC. It is an independent coalition of development organizations that oversees the distribution of aid and development funding. It works with member organizations to identify on-the-ground needs and acts to ensure assistance is distributed fairly and where it can provide the most benefit.
