Militaries of the United States and other countries are stepping up humanitarian aid missions in the typhoon-devastated Philippines, reports said.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered U.S. forces to provide disaster relief to the central Philippines, pounded by “Super” Typhoon Haiyan, Yonhap News Agency reported, quoting Pentagon press secretary George Little.
Hagel ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which was in Hong Kong, and other U.S. Navy ships in Japan, to "make best possible speed" for the Philippines, Little was quoted as saying in a press briefing Tuesday (local time).
Other countries are joining the relief efforts.
Japan’s Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera Tuesday ordered the dispatch of Japanese Delf-Defense Forces to assist with the devastation caused by the typhoon, the Kyodo News said.
The Japanese disaster relief team consists of 50 members, including 20 medical workers.
Japan, if requested by the Philippine government, will send more troops, Kyodo said.
Taiwan is no exception. The Taiwanese armed forces are conducting relief work under the supervision of the National Security Council,” Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense spokesman Luo Shou-he said Tuesday.
“Two C-130 planes carrying relief goods and nongovernmental organizations personnel are scheduled to take off at noon from an air force base in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu for Manila,” he said. “Further assistance will be provided if necessary.”
According to Philippine officials, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, the typhoon has affected more than two million households and 9.7 million people, resulting in 1,774 deaths.
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