A PLANE CARRYING almost 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Ireland is on its way to The Philippines today.
The aid is on board a specially-commissioned GOAL-Aer Lingus flight which left from Dublin Airport at 8.10am this morning.
The relief supplies were donated by the Irish people in recent days and will be used by GOAL in the stricken country. The aid agency is assisting some of the millions of people who were affected by the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan just over two weeks ago.
“Companies from all across the country, including some of our most trusted suppliers, responded to GOAL’s request for aid stocks over the past few days,” said GOAL CEO, Barry Andrews.
He said that the Irish Defence Forces were one of those to come forward, donating materials valued at almost €60,000. The Construction Industry Federation provided another €10,000 worth of stock.
He described the people of Ireland as having been “extraordinarily generous, particularly considering the short time frame we were operating in”. He also thanked Aer Lingus, for putting on the flight, and its cockpit, cabin crew and operations staff employees, who volunteered their free time.
The plane is due to touch down in Dubai this evening, and from there GOAL will arrange onward transportation of the stocks to the Philippines.
The supplies include aqua tabs, emergency medical equipment, assorted food items, shelter materials and other essential items.
GOAL will work with its network of local partners on the ground to distribute the aid. So far, it has reached almost 17,000 people across Leyte and Panay, which are two of the worst-hit islands.
Aid will be distributed by GOAL in Tacloban city in the coming days.
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