WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Thursday said the aircraft carrier USS George Washington -- loaded with food, water, tents, and medical supplies -- was near the coast of the Philippines to aid in the recovery from Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and that more help was on the way.

 

"One of our core principles is, when friends are in trouble, America helps. As I told President Aquino earlier this week, the United States will continue to offer whatever military assistance we can," Obama said.

Unites States President Barak Obama

 

 

"Over the past few days, I think all of us have been shaken by the images of the devastation brought by Typhoon Haiyan. It's a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life is, and among the dead are several Americans," he added.

 

"So our prayers are with the Filipino people and with Filipino-Americans across our country who are anxious about their family and friends back home," Obama said.

 

 

"Our military personnel and USAID team do this better than anybody in the world, and they've been already on the ground working tirelessly to deliver food, water, medicine, shelter and to help with airlift," he said.

 

More than 5,000 sailors and 80 aircraft are attached to the USS George Washington and the other ships in its carrier group. The carrier's water distilling plants can produce 400,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of fresh water per day.

Obama appealed to Americans to donate money to relief organizations for the benefit of the typhoon victims. The White House website has established a portal for donations.

 

"America's strength of course has always been more than just about what our government can do. It's also about what our citizens can do. It's about the big heartedness of the American people when they see other folks in trouble. So today I would encourage everybody who wants to help to visit whitehouse.gov/typhoon," Obama said.

"That's whitehouse.gov/typhoon. And, that will offer you links to organizations that are working on the ground and ways that you can support their efforts. Our friends in the Philippines will face a long hard road ahead, but they'll continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America," he said.