Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his sadness at the loss of life and the serious damage to homes and infrastructure in the Philippines as a result of Typhoon Bopha, and said the United Nations stood ready to assist, according to his spokesperson.

Welcoming the announcement of a peace agreement to end decades of fighting between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the island of Mindanao in the country’s south, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged full United Nations assistance in helping the parties implement the accord, according to his spokesperson.

The United Nations food relief agency is supporting the Government of the Philippines to help the hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by heavy rains over the past week.