MANILA – United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday conveyed his sympathies to the Philippines after the devastation caused by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, which killed 14 people and injured two.
In a call with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Blinken reiterated that the US “stands ready to provide assistance.”
“Secretary Blinken further shared condolences for those in the Philippines who have died or been displaced as a result of Typhoon Gaemi and recent monsoon-related flooding. The
Secretary noted that the United States stands ready to provide assistance,” the US State Department said in a readout.
Metro Manila had been placed under a state of calamity as the intensified southwest monsoon brought torrential rains that triggered massive flooding across the capital region and several other parts of the country.
About 1.3 million people were affected by the calamity, more than 200,000 of whom are currently taking shelter in evacuation centers, according to the latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The foreign missions of New Zealand, the European Union, China, Australia, and Germany in Manila have also offered support upon the government’s request.
During the call, Blinken and Manalo also discussed the 2+2 US-Philippines Ministerial Dialogue, to be held in Manila on July 30, where the two officials will be joined by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro for talks on wider cooperation.
“Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Manalo reiterated the importance of the United States-Philippines Alliance and spoke about shared priorities, both in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world,” the State Department said. (PNA)
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