Philippine leader thanks international community for Typhoon help

Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Friday thanked the international community for its help following Typhoon Haiyan's destruction in November, dpa reported. The international community rallied behind the Philippines after Haiyan slammed into the eastern and central provinces with record winds on November 8, killing more than 6,190 people. "It is with a sincere sense of gratitude that I tell you: the Filipino people remember who their friends are," Aquino said in an annual toast for the diplomatic community in Manila. "Filipinos never forget an instance of kindness, and will constantly look for ways to repay those who stood by them in the most difficult times," he added. Emergency assistance from foreign governments and aid organizations reached 538 million dollars, according to the Philippine government. More than 1,700 people are still missing and more than 4 million were displaced as Haiyan flattened homes and infrastructure in the worst-hit region of Eastern Visayas.