The Vietnam Red Cross Association handed over $30,000 as relief aid to Washi storm victims in the Philippines on Feb 16. The move was made after the United Nation called on the international community, including ASEAN nations, to support the Filipino storm victims. As a gesture of mutual assistance from Vietnam to another ASEAN member country, the funding is expected to help them overcome the great consequences of the tropical storm. Typhoon Washi whipped the Philippines on Dec 17, 2011, leaving 1,400 dea and missing with a trail of flattened homes and broken bridges. Thousands of flood survivors are still in distress for lack of food and accommodation. Many countries, territorial areas and non-governmental organizations have sent relief worker teams and donated aid to the country. The United Nations has recently called for around $30 million in relief aid to the Philippines. The Vietnamese government earlier donated $100,000 to the storm-hit country. (An Ninh Thu Do – Capital Security Feb 17 p17, Vietnamplus.vn Feb 16)
