American Red Cross Disaster Newsroom

Disaster Update

American Red Cross Contributes $75,000 to Philippine Disaster Relief

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The American Red Cross is contributing $75,000 to help those affected by Typhoon Washi, which struck the Mindanao area in the southern Philippines late Saturday evening. Most recent reports state the typhoon has left more than 1,000 dead, 1,600 injured and has impacted some 640,000 people overall. Massive flooding and landslides have left nearly 20,ooo homes damaged or destroyed, crushed infrastructure such as roads, bridges, power lines, and telecommunications and brought domestic flights to a halt. In the hardest hit areas, Filipino agriculture has sustained damages upwards of $27.5 million, a crushing number for the local economy. These numbers are expected to rise with further assessment of the damage.

The Philippine Red Cross is heavily engaged with rescue and relief operations, responding with more than 600 volunteers and staff. In addition, they have provided food to nearly 4,000 people and have set up first aid and social services at evacuation centers. Through support from the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, they plan to provide 25,000 affected people with food, relief supplies, water and sanitation, hygiene, shelter and livelihoods assistance, in the coming days and weeks. Working with the Philippine Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross has dispatched 3,000 hygiene kits as well as pre-positioned relief supplies, for 5,000 families with more items to come.

For more information on the disaster, visit http://www.redcross.org.ph.

Disaster Alert

Last updated on Monday, December 19, 2011

Late Saturday evening, Typhoon Washi struck the Mindanao area in the southern Philippines, leaving hundreds dead and hundreds more missing. According to the national disaster risk reduction and management council (NDRRMC), more than 135,000 people have been affected, with 45,000 currently being served in 47 evacuation centers. Massive flooding and landslides have left 4,000 homes damaged or destroyed, crushed infrastructure such as roads, bridges, power lines, telecommunications, and damaged the country’s agricultural based economy. These numbers are expected to rise with further assessment of the damage.

The Philippine Red Cross is heavily engaged with rescue and relief operations, responding with more than 600 volunteers and staff. The PRC has provided hot meals to some 2,300 people and has set up first aid and welfare desks at its evacuation centers. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross has dispatched 3,000 hygiene kits from its warehouses in Davaao, Mindanao’s capital. Additional supplies of food packages and relief supplies are in route to the region. In country, volunteers are also conducting assessments to determine levels of damage and to plan next steps.

The American Red Cross is closely monitoring the situation through our partners in the region and stands ready to support the Philippine Red Cross if required.

For more information on the disaster, visit http://www.redcross.org.ph.