World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey's state-owned relief organization Turk Kizilayi (Red Crescent) has sent 65 tons of aid to the disaster-hit Philippines on Monday.

Red Crescent's cargo plane also carrying a rescue team has arrived in the Philippines at 16:00 Turkish time and the rescue team is ready to dispatch in case they are needed.

Four and a half million people have been affected by the typhoon which hit several central Philippine islands on Friday, leaving around 330 thousand left homeless, according to the United Nations.

Red Crescent says 1200 people might have died so far, with the death toll feared to rise much higher.

In another international effort to support victims of the disaster, Canada has started a relief campaign where the government will add a dollar in aid to each dollar donated by the public till December 8, Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development, said Sunday.

Public donations are limited to 100 thousand dollars and can optionally be deducted from tax, Paradis added.

Canada has already sent 5 million dollars in aid to the disaster-stricken area.