(Photo courtesy of PIA Abra) MANILA - Japan, Australia, and other international organizations are on standby to provide assistance to the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake that jolted Abra and several areas in Luzon on Wednesday. The Japanese Embassy in Manila said Tokyo, like in previous disasters, is committed to providing timely assistance to the country. "We haven't issued a statement regarding aid yet. However, we are committed to providing assistance to the victims in a timely manner in the same way as we have done for the previous natural disasters here in the Philippines," it said in a statement. The Australian Embassy, on the other hand, said it continues to coordinate with relevant government offices to assess the needs on the ground. "The Embassy is monitoring the situation following (the earthquake in Abra) and keeping contact with the Philippine government and partners to assess needs. Australia is prepared to respond if required," Charges d'Affaires a.i. Richard Sisson said in a tweet. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are also in contact with the Philippine government to support its emergency response efforts. In a tweet, the IOM Philippines said it will deploy a surge team with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to conduct a rapid assessment and co-lead the camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) cluster. The UNICEF Philippines, meanwhile, prepositioned emergency supplies while its teams are on standby to reach affected children and families. "In any emergency, children are among the most vulnerable. Our hearts go out to children affected and our first priority is to ensure their lives are saved and protected," it said. "Children and families may have been displaced and injured as a result of the earthquake and could be in urgent need of shelter, clean water, medical care, protection, and psychosocial support," it added. Several countries also took to social media to express sympathies to the Filipinos affected by the strong quake, including the United States, China, France, Austria and Canada. The European Union Delegation in the Philippines said its thoughts are also with the affected population. (PNA) }