S. Korean PM orders more support for Philippines

South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won instructed the government Thursday to extend more support for the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, his office said.

Super typhoon Haiyan pounded the central Philippines with strong winds and heavy rain last week, killing some 2,344 people as of Wednesday, according to its authorities.

South Korea has pledged $5 million in aid and to send a 40-man team of rescue and medical workers to the Southeast Asian country, with its relief goods to arrive in the city of Tacloban, the area hardest hit by the recent super typhoon, later in the day.

"Apart from the $5 million in aid, the government should support (the Philippines) by mobilizing every possible means such as the official development aid programs," Chung said during a weekly policy coordination meeting.

"The Philippines is a close ally of South Korea which took part in the Korean War, a home country of mothers of many multicultural families here and a valuable partner for shared growth," he said.

"We have to do our best to help the people there to overcome the hardships."

Chung also ordered the officials to strive to locate the whereabouts of 19 South Koreans who remain unaccounted for in the typhoon-affected area.

In a brief statement, the foreign ministry here said that it has been trying to find them and to help the Korean victims by dispatching more officials to the affected areas and setting up a consular center.

Meanwhile, the Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) said Thursday it has decided to provide $1 million in cash and to send another $1 million in emergency relief goods to the typhoon victims.

The first batch of the goods is to be sent later this week, with the second batch to be shipped in about two weeks, it added.

At the request of the Filipino government, it also plans to send a medical team to help the victims, according to the agency.

"We will conduct a national fund-raising campaign with a goal to raise some 10 billion won ($9.37 million)," a KNRC official said. (Yonhap News)