Mindanao Earthquake
Debate between Lord Lemos and Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Lab)
My Lords, my work in the Philippines is recorded in the Lords register. I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)
My Lords, I was deeply saddened to hear about the earthquake in the Philippines on 8 June and I offer my condolences to everyone impacted. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. I praise the strong and rapid response of the Government of the Philippines at a challenging time. Of course, the UK stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance if requested by the Philippines Government. We have a range of mechanisms and capabilities in place to provide that support if called upon.
Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Lab)
I thank my noble friend for his Answer on behalf of the Government. The good people of General Santos in South Cotabato, in the Bangsamoro region of the Philippines, have spent the last 12 years rebuilding their economy and their communities after 50 years of civil war. They face these climate shock events on a far too regular basis. Some 32,000 people have been displaced and at least 37 have died. I hope the Government will not only be able to provide humanitarian support for a key partner country in our geopolitical relationships but continue to provide support in the Philippines for action against climate change and in support of peace-building efforts, following the conflict and the civil war that affected that region in particular for so long.
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I pay tribute to my noble friend for the work that he has done in the Philippines over many years, particularly in the Bangsamoro region. He has been involved for more than a decade, I think, and that has been a remarkable commitment where he has achieved and contributed to real change.
The UK has provided humanitarian assistance in recent years to support the Philippines Government’s response to the major natural disasters that have impacted the country. My noble friend is right to say that these are often climate-related. The Philippines is one of the countries that are most vulnerable to climate-related disasters, and we have been strong supporters of it. We also have a modern development partnership with the Philippines.