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Davao Region looks like a dead city
after was hit by Typhoon
"Pablo"
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* Typhoon Pablo Hit My Town Of Compostela, Mindanao
Geneva/Manila (ICRC) – Typhoon Bopha (locally known as Pablo) has destroyed more than 90% of the infrastructure in the eastern half of the southern Philippines, with severe consequences for over a hundred thousand people. More than 900 deaths have already been confirmed. In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with the Philippine Red Cross, is scaling up its operations on the ground. To meet the most critical needs of some 200,000 people, the ICRC is launching a preliminary appeal for P433 million (10 million Swiss francs).
"This typhoon left a
staggering level of damage along the eastern coast of Mindanao," said
Alain Aeschlimann, the ICRC's head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia
and the Pacific. "In the worst-hit communities of Baganga, Cateel, Boston
and Caraga, people are left with almost nothing. Not only have they lost their
homes, but they are worried about their future since the crops they depend on
to earn a living have been almost totally destroyed."
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Davao Region looks like a dead city
after was hit by Typhoon
"Pablo"
|
"Our priority will be to
provide people with emergency assistance, keeping in mind the mid-term goal of
helping them to resume their normal lives," said Mr Aeschlimann.
"Most of the funds we are calling for will be spent on food and basic
shelter materials that can be provided right away." On 14 December, a
Boeing 747 jet will land in Davao fully loaded with emergency supplies. The
aircraft will make two more trips to bring a total of 280 tonnes of tarpaulins
and other shelter materials, mosquito nets and basic household items from the
ICRC’s emergency stock in Kuala Lumpur.
The ICRC, which has been working
in this part of the southern Philippines for decades, and its partner, the
Philippine Red Cross, have already delivered food and items essential for
cooking and hygiene to tens of thousands of people. Since local water systems
were damaged, joint ICRC-Philippine Red Cross emergency teams are treating
water and transporting it to strategic locations so that people will have clean
drinking water. The ICRC has also helped local hospitals to cope with the
influx of injured patients by providing medicines and medical supplies. In
addition, it plans to support repairs to some rural health facilities in the
area to ensure that people have access to suitable medical care.
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