The Philippines has received 199.48 billion pesos (about 4.44 billion U.S. dollars) from international sources for the rehabilitation of areas struck by typhoon Haiyan ( local name Yolanda) a year ago, a senior government official said Tuesday. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the amount came in the form of loans, financial grants and donations.

A day after coming under mortar fire in Homs, aid workers gathered at the edge of a besieged rebel-held district on Sunday to evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian supplies to 2,500 people trapped by Syria’s civil war.