ASEM asks ASEAN to match typhoon-hit Philippines' needs

The ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting today asked the ASEAN Secretariat to match the requirement of typhoon-hit Philippines in which thousands of people lost their lives as India was also considering extending assistance to that country.

Conveying their condolences at the loss of lives, the Foreign Ministers at the meeting asked the ASEAN Secretariat not to duplicate but match the requirement of Philippines, sources said.

They said India was also considering extending assistance to Phillipines where over 10,000 people lost their lives. However, sources did not elaborate on the kind of assistance India was considering.

The Super Typhoon Haiyan had hit central Phillipines on Friday, leaving a deadly trail of death and devastation.