WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated an additional $1 million in emergency assistance for the people of the Philippines in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ketsana, bringing the total assistance provided by USAID to $1.1 million.

Once rapid assessments are complete, this additional funding will provide emergency grants to humanitarian organizations already working in the affected areas to help meet the most immediate and pressing needs. USAID has also dispatched two disaster response experts to Manila to assess flood impacts and facilitate USG assistance, in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and USAID/Philippines.

In addition to assistance provided by USAID, the U.S. Department of Defense has provided equipment, transport, and logistics support, including a helicopter and six Zodiac boats for movement of supplies and to aid relief and recovery efforts.

As the lead federal agency for the provision of international disaster response, USAID - working alongside the U.S. Embassy in Manila - continues to monitor the situation and stands prepared to provide additional assistance should it be necessary.

USAID provides humanitarian assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the social and economic impact of humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/working-crises-and-conflict.