Queen Elizabeth II expressed her condolences to President Rodrigo Duterte following the onslaught of super typhoon Odette that ravaged Visayas and parts of Mindanao last week.
United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils on Wednesday said in a statement: “Today, Her Majesty The Queen sent President Duterte a message offering her condolences and deepest sympathies to all those affected by Odette.”
“The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the Philippines and Filipino people in the wake of this devastating typhoon,” she added.
The British government earlier committed to donate P50 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Philippine Red Cross to aid the typhoon survivors.
On Sunday, Pope Francis assured the many victims of Odette that they are close to his heart as he expressed hope that the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) will bring them comfort.
“I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines struck by a strong typhoon, which has destroyed many homes. May the Santo Niño bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire concrete help in all of us,” the Pope said after leading the midday Angelus.
“The first concrete help is prayer,” the Holy Father added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his condolences to Duterte.
“Russia sides with the grief of all those, who lost their relatives and close ones as a result of this disastrous natural calamity and hopes for the soonest recovery of the injured people,” Putin said in his message to Duterte published on the Kremlin’s official website.