MANILA - Canada has announced that it will provide an additional Cad $1.25 million (P43 million) in humanitarian assistance to support Filipinos living in conflict areas in Mindanao.

The Canadian Embassy said Tuesday that the funding will be split between the Action Against Hunger (ACF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and will be used to improve food security, health, living conditions, livelihood and emergency-preparedness in Zamboanga and Maguindanao.

The ACF will receive Cad $500,000 to improve food security for over 3,000 people displaced by conflict.

The ACF shall also provide unconditional cash grants, assist pregnant and lactating women and households with children aged 6 to 23 months, and provide quick impact livelihood support through cash transfers and appropriate training.

The rest of the fund, which amounts to Cad $750,000, will go to the ICRC and will be used provide medical care and physical rehabilitation to detainees and weapon-wounded patients at six medical facilities.

Robert Hall. File Photo

The ICRC will also distribute non-food items to up to 160,000 violence-affected individuals and food items to up to 50,000 people.

It will also ensure emergency water and sanitation services to some 33,000 Mindanao residents, cash grants to 12,500 people and livelihood inputs to up to 25,000 individuals.

The new funding comes after Canadian Robert Hall was beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Sulu on Monday.

Hall was abducted by the al-Qaeda linked militants along with another Canadian, a Filipina and a Norwegian from an upscale resort in nearby Samal Island last September. The Philippine and Canadian governments have refused to pay a P-300 million ransom demanded by Abu Sayyaf.

READ: Family of slain hostage back Canada ransom policy

John Ridsel, the other Canadian captive, was executed last April 25. The Filipina and Norwegian hostages remain in the hands of Abu Sayyaf.

Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said the Army and national police will heighten counter-insurgency operations to bring the bandit group to justice.