December 21, 2012: Manila - Today the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching a 16.2 million Swiss franc (13.4 million Euros) emergency appeal to help the Philippine Red Cross provide humanitarian assistance to 200,000 people affected by Typhoon Bopha - the deadliest storm to have struck the Philippines this year.
More than 1000 people were killed by the storm and providing long term shelter to survivors remains one of most critical needs. The homes of over 330,000 people have been totally destroyed, leaving families housed for the foreseeable future in temporary evacuation centers or with friends and relatives.
"The situation is truly desperate. So many people who had very little before the typhoon struck have been left with virtually nothing", explains Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of Philippine Red Cross. "The next few weeks will be critical. We have to meet people's basic daily needs, such as food and water, but they also need help to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. We hope the international community can offer some timely assistance as we approach Christmas."
Since the disaster struck, Philippine Red Cross teams have been supporting search and rescue efforts and providing emergency first aid as well as delivering food, clean water and other relief items to thousands of people who have been rendered homeless. The disaster impacted 34 provinces, mainly in Mindanao, and reaching many affected communities in more remote areas has proved challenging. Now, relief activities are intensifying as access to affected areas improves.
"We are acting on the needs that exist today but also the longer term problems that lie ahead,'" says Selva Sinnadurai, head of the IFRC's office in the Philippines. "Some people will receive emergency shelter kits to repair their homes, but we also aim to build transitional shelters for 4,000 families and provide them with cash grants to help them get back on their feet."
The IFRC appeal will complement relief and emergency health activities being undertaken by the International Committee of the Red Cross which is also working with the Philippine Red Cross in Mindanao.
For further information, please contact:
In Manila:
• Necephor Mghendi, operations manager, IFRC Philippines office. Tel: +63 928 471 2335 email: necephor.mghendi@ifrc.org
In Kuala Lumpur:
• Patrick Fuller, communications manager, Asia Pacific, IFRC. Mobile : +60 122 308 451
email : patrick.fuller@ifrc.org