China hikes donation to Philippine storm victims to $140,000

The Chinese government Wednesday provided an additional 100,000 U.S. dollars as disaster relief assistance to the Philippines, battered by the tropical storm Ketsana which left 288 people dead or missing and more than half a million displaced.

This extra fund brings total Chinese donation to Philippine storm victims to 140,000 U.S. dollars -- including an initial government chip-in of 10,000 dollars and a generous contribution of 30,000 dollars from Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc, under China's telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd..

Acting Philippine Foreign Secretary Franklin Ebdalin, who Wednesday received the check from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao, said he thanked the Chinese government for the assistance as damage brought by storm Ketsana were enormous and strained Manila's rescue and relief capabilities.

The U.N. agencies and foreign governments such as the United States, Japan, Australia and Singapore have also pledged support.

Kestana, locally known as Ondoy, swept through the central Luzon region last Saturday. The epic rainfall brought by the storm caused massive flooding and landslides. Two hundred and forty-six people were killed, 42 remain missing while nearly 700,000 people fled their flooded homes to stay in either evacuation centers or with host families.

Source:Xinhua