The United States military has deployed assets and personnel to support disaster relief operations in the Philippines following back-to-back typhoons that left widespread damage and casualties across several regions.
Super Typhoon Fung-Wong, locally known as Uwan, killed at least 27 people when it lashed the country’s northeastern coast on Sunday– coming just days after an earlier storm, Kalmaegi (Tino), claimed 259 lives.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Fung-Wong affected and displaced some 1,006,149 families or about 3.6 million people.
“At the request of the government of the Philippines, the U.S. military is working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide foreign disaster relief to communities affected by consecutive Typhoons Kalmaegi (Tino) and Fung-Wong (Uwan), which caused extensive damage and tragic loss of life,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.
“The forward presence and ready posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command in the region facilitated a rapid and effective response to these natural disasters, demonstrating the U.S. commitment as friends, allies, and partners during times of need,” it added.
U.S. and Philippine troops are coordinating with the NDRRMC, Office of Civil Defense, Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group, Task Force – Philippines, and the U.S. Department of State to prioritize the hardest-hit areas and move aid to affected communities.
Brig. Gen. Robert Brodie, commanding general of the U.S. 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, praised the Philippine government’s preparedness and emphasized the importance of the alliance in humanitarian operations.
“I have been thoroughly impressed by the preparedness and forward-leaning measures taken by the Philippine government during this situation,” Brodie said. “We will support the lead of our Philippine counterparts as we carry out this relief mission together as a fully-aligned team. Support to our friends, allies, and partners – and their people in a time of need – is non-negotiable,” he added.
Since Nov. 5, U.S. forces have been coordinating mission planning with the Philippine government and military agencies to deliver vital supplies to storm-hit regions.
“This effort highlights the long-standing U.S.-Philippine Alliance and the shared commitment to regional resilience and humanitarian assistance,” the Info-Pacific Command said.
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