Richard Wolf, USA TODAY 4:33 p.m. EST November 9, 2013
A survivor carries relief goods Saturday in Tacloban city on the island of Leyte.(Photo: Aaron Favila AP)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
Help is on the way to areas of the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development and humanitarian relief groups.
The Obama administration made an initial $100,000 available Saturday to provide basic health care, clean water and sanitation following the Philippines government's request for international assistance. That figure is likely to grow as damage and humanitarian needs are assessed.
USAID, the lead agency for the international humanitarian response, deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team to the area to make those assessments. The team's early surveys in some of the country's hardest-hit areas found severe damage, particularly in the towns of Tacloban and Ormoc on the island of Leyte, which were virtually wiped out by the storm. One of the first supplies delivered was plastic sheeting to be used for emergency shelter.
STORY: Haiyan leaves devastation, death
STORY: Why is Philippines a hot zone for typhoons?
STORY: Delaware's Filipino community fears worst
"Today our hearts go out to the Filipino people," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "The United States can and must do everything in our power to assist our friend and ally in dealing with the devastating consequences of this storm, and to help meet the needs of the Filipino people in addressing this disaster."
The American Red Cross deployed staff members to the area and activated its family tracing services for people seeking to locate missing family members. With phone lines down across the area, the agency urged people to be patient and keep trying to make contact.
Google has launched a person finder for Typhoon Haiyan victims, where friends and family can search for information on a loved one or enter information about a person's whereabouts so others know they are safe.
Private aid groups said there was an immediate need for rice, canned foods, clean water, medicine, clothes, shelter and blankets. But U.S. officials said that, just as in other disasters, the best thing Americans can do is donate cash to reputable humanitarian organizations.
Those seeking to send help can go to website for InterAction, a consortium of 180 non-government organizations involved in global assistance programs. Among the members are the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Save the Children, U.S. Fund for UNICEF and World Food Program USA.
In addition, USAID operates a Center for International Disaster Information, which helps prospective donors get the most bang for their bucks.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• The American Red Cross has volunteers spread throughout the region and accepts donations online. You can also mail a check to your local American Red Cross chapter designating Philippines Typhoons and Flood in the memo line.
• The U.N. World Food Programme is urging Americans to make donations to support its emergency food relief after Typhoon Haiyan. You can donate online or by texting the word AID to 27722 to donate $10.
• AmeriCares is deploying medical aid and a relief team to Philippines, and says an emergency shipment with enough medical aid for 20,000 survivors is already on its way.
• The Philippine Red Cross has deployed staff and volunteers across the region. You can easily make a donation through organization's website.
• To donate to the Salvation Army's Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, visit its website or text TYPHOON to 80888 to donate $10 and reply YES to confirm your donation. The organization uses 100% of all disaster donations in support of disaster relief.
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A survivor carries relief goods Saturday in Tacloban city on the island of Leyte.(Photo: Aaron Favila AP)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
- Initial $100,000 made available for health care, water, sanitation
- First responders on the ground to assess damages, needs
- Americans urged to make cash donations to reputable charities
Help is on the way to areas of the Philippines devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development and humanitarian relief groups.
The Obama administration made an initial $100,000 available Saturday to provide basic health care, clean water and sanitation following the Philippines government's request for international assistance. That figure is likely to grow as damage and humanitarian needs are assessed.
USAID, the lead agency for the international humanitarian response, deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team to the area to make those assessments. The team's early surveys in some of the country's hardest-hit areas found severe damage, particularly in the towns of Tacloban and Ormoc on the island of Leyte, which were virtually wiped out by the storm. One of the first supplies delivered was plastic sheeting to be used for emergency shelter.
STORY: Haiyan leaves devastation, death
STORY: Why is Philippines a hot zone for typhoons?
STORY: Delaware's Filipino community fears worst
"Today our hearts go out to the Filipino people," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "The United States can and must do everything in our power to assist our friend and ally in dealing with the devastating consequences of this storm, and to help meet the needs of the Filipino people in addressing this disaster."
The American Red Cross deployed staff members to the area and activated its family tracing services for people seeking to locate missing family members. With phone lines down across the area, the agency urged people to be patient and keep trying to make contact.
Google has launched a person finder for Typhoon Haiyan victims, where friends and family can search for information on a loved one or enter information about a person's whereabouts so others know they are safe.
Private aid groups said there was an immediate need for rice, canned foods, clean water, medicine, clothes, shelter and blankets. But U.S. officials said that, just as in other disasters, the best thing Americans can do is donate cash to reputable humanitarian organizations.
Those seeking to send help can go to website for InterAction, a consortium of 180 non-government organizations involved in global assistance programs. Among the members are the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Save the Children, U.S. Fund for UNICEF and World Food Program USA.
In addition, USAID operates a Center for International Disaster Information, which helps prospective donors get the most bang for their bucks.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• The American Red Cross has volunteers spread throughout the region and accepts donations online. You can also mail a check to your local American Red Cross chapter designating Philippines Typhoons and Flood in the memo line.
• The U.N. World Food Programme is urging Americans to make donations to support its emergency food relief after Typhoon Haiyan. You can donate online or by texting the word AID to 27722 to donate $10.
• AmeriCares is deploying medical aid and a relief team to Philippines, and says an emergency shipment with enough medical aid for 20,000 survivors is already on its way.
• The Philippine Red Cross has deployed staff and volunteers across the region. You can easily make a donation through organization's website.
• To donate to the Salvation Army's Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, visit its website or text TYPHOON to 80888 to donate $10 and reply YES to confirm your donation. The organization uses 100% of all disaster donations in support of disaster relief.
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