Aid agency Goal has dispatched an emergency response team to the region around Tacloban on the Philippine island of Leyte which was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.
Chief executive Barry Andrews said the team would work with local authorities and partners to determine the “most relevant and appropriate response on the ground”.
One member of the six-strong team is due in Tacloban today with the remainder scheduled to arrive over the next 48-hours.
Among them will be Dublin-based Frank McManus, Goal’s global humanitarian advisor.
The first stage of Goal’s operation is likely to focus on the distribution of non-food items including shelter, water and hygiene products.
Initial estimates suggest that at least 10,000 people have been killed and more than 600,000 made homeless by the Typhoon.
The Irish Government has contributed €1 million in aid to the relief effort in the Philippines.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny today defended the level of aid offered to date by the State and said countries like Ireland could "only make a small gesture".
Asked by the reporters if the €1 million euro aid promised by Ireland in the wake of the disaster might be revised upwards, the Taoiseach replied that this was always a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, adding that “Ireland is not a country with unlimited resources”.
“The €1 million promised by Ireland is a gesture of solidarity and recognition of the scale of the disaster”.
Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said Ireland was one of the first countries to respond to the “enormous tragedy”.
“We’re seeing in the Philippines about six million people who’ve been affected now by this tragedy, a large number of people who have lost their homes and, from what we can gather, very, very large numbers of people who have lost their lives.
“What we have done is we have provided €1 million immediately to aid agencies to help with the relief effort. We’re also providing some equipment, tents, blankets, cooking equipment, shelter equipment; we’re providing that from our emergency supplies and in addition to that we also have our rapid response team standing by.
“This is a dedicated team of specialists including engineers, people in the fire service and so on who are available to go to work to help with the aid effort. “
“I want to express my sympathy and the sympathy of the Government with the people of the Philippines and indeed with the many Filipino people who are living here in Ireland”.