Uk Deploys Carrier To Philippines

[Markham]

HMS Illustrious has been ordered to leave the Persian Gulf, where she has been taking part in exercises, and proceed at best speed to the Philippines where she is due to arrive by 25th November and will relieve HMS Daring. Illustrious, the second of three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s, has a crew of 900 and 7 helicopters - 3 Lynx, 3 Sea Kings and a Merlin - as well as a hospital and engineering facilities.


In addition, the UK is dispatching a civilian Antonov heavy lift aircraft: it will carry and provide 100 tons of airfield handling equipment to enable offloading of relief supplies at airfields and equipment for rubble clearance. And a twelve person specialist medical team, requested by the Philippine Department of Health, has now arrived in the country from London.

These latest deployments increase the UK government aid package to £20 million with a further £13 million raised by public appeal and makes the UK the second largest emergency aid donor to the Philippines after the US.

[JJReyes]

Both the US and UK governments have learned not to give cash donations for disaster relief. Instead, they commit goods and services such as medical teams and equipment operated by specialists. The radio and television appeals for Typhoon Yolanda victims ask that everyone send money rather than canned goods and clothing. I am bothered by it knowing some of the money will end up in the pockets of politicians and government bureaucrats. 

[Markham]

The radio and television appeals for Typhoon Yolanda victims ask that everyone send money rather than canned goods and clothing. I am bothered by it knowing some of the money will end up in the pockets of politicians and government bureaucrats.

 

I don't know about the US but money sent to UK-based charities is used to provide physical aid for distribution by their own staff. There was a very succesful appeal televised in the UK, on Tuesday I believe. In the first 24 hours, the Disaster Appeal Committee - which represents 24 aid agencies - reported that over £13 million (Php 910 million) had been donated.

 

Interesting that the US military officer who took charge in Tacloban yesterday gave orders that Filipino agencies (DSWD, NDRRMC etc) were not permitted to handle US Aid.

 

Talking about carriers, I wonder how long it will be before nationalistic legislators force Aquino to request that the George Washington leaves Philippine waters. She is, after all, nuclear-powered and I seem to recall that the last time the US wanted to deploy her to the Philippines -- to help with the aid effort following a typhoon hit on Manila and the burying of hundreds in mud slides -- Arroyo refused to allow her to take part. My guess is that it won't be too long.

Edited November 15, 2013 by Markham

[Mike S]

Well there you have it lets beat out chests like Tarzan and scream nationalistic war cries when they can't even begin to cope with the disaster at hand .... you know I can even begin to understand how this country can operate with all different ways the government pulls against each other .... instead of coming together to help these poor people they would rather each grab their own agenda and run with it ..... I hate to say this because so many people are suffering but if they tell the US to remove that carrier then I say just leave and take everything back with them and let the government continue doing the fine job it has been doing ..... and that includes any further action in the Spratlys ..... I'm sure China will be much more understanding ... after all didn't then send $100,000

 

I guess I'm gonna have to quit getting involved with these posts about the Typhoon .... I just get to worked up and say things that could get me in trouble ....  :thumbsup: 

:cheersty:

[Papa Carl]

Well there you have it lets beat out chests like Tarzan and scream nationalistic war cries when they can't even begin to cope with the disaster at hand .... you know I can even begin to understand how this country can operate with all different ways the government pulls against each other .... instead of coming together to help these poor people they would rather each grab their own agenda and run with it ... 

 

 

Ha, funny when I was reading this, I was thinking about the USA? Could have been the UK or any of a number of other countries I could think of.

 

Papa Carl

[lonewolf]

well like my momma used to say if you can t say something good about them don t say any thing at all, thats howi feel about the b--- s---

[Dougbert]

well like my momma used to say if you can t say something good about them don t say any thing at all, thats howi feel about the b--- s---

 

I had the same thing hammered into my head as a young boy, too.  But I'm not sure that rule applies to politicians!

[Mike S]

I had the same thing hammered into my head as a young boy, too. But I'm not sure that rule applies to politicians!

 

There are NO rules for politicians or integrity either .... and that goes for anywhere in the world .... they may have them when they first run for office but after being in there for a while my first statement applies ..... JMHO

:cheersty: