More Malaysian Aid For Philippine Storm Victims

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government has donated US$900,000 (about RM2.8 million) to the Philippine government to help rebuild the livelihood of victims of a recent tropical storm and landslide in Mindanao. The aid was handed over by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman to Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario in Manila on Friday, said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry here Friday. Anifah, who was on a working visit to the Philippines, discussed bilateral cooperation and other issues of mutual interest with Rosario. This is the second humanitarian aid from the Malaysian government to the Philippines. The first, a contribution of US$100,000 (RM310,395) was presented by Anifah to the Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Eduardo E. Malaya III last month. More than 1,000 people reportedly died and more than 350,000 were displaced by the storm Sendong, which struck last month and also destroyed billions of ringgit worth of infrastructure including bridges, schools and roads. -- BERNAMA