Red Cross appeals for international aid

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday said it had aired an international emergency appeal for P150 million in cash, kind and services for its relief and recovery efforts covering 50,000 families for the next eight months in typhoon-affected provinces in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The appeal was issued on October 4 through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, PRC chairman Richard Gordon said in a statement.

Gordon said the appeal was prompted by the widespread destruction wrought by Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” on September 27 and October 1, respectively.

A total of 3.2 million people were affected in the worst-hit areas, including Metro Manila. Fifty-nine people were killed, 70 injured and 31 are still missing.

“We need your help,” Gordon said, adding: “Help cannot wait. Lives of people are at stake. We need to move fast.”

There are at present more than 17,000 families still in 330 evacuation centers, the Red Cross said.

PRC secretary general Gwendolyn Pang said the Red Cross was currently providing over 30,000 bags of food and nonfood items to families in the worst-hit areas.

More than 6,000 families have been served so far. Each food pack consists of five kilos of rice, three cans of sardines and five noodle packets. Nonfood items include mats, blankets, drinking water containers, cooking utensils and hygiene kits.

Earlier, the Red Cross said it rescued more than 2,500 people who were marooned in deep floodwaters in Calumpit and Hagonoy, Bulacan.

The Red Cross has mobilized more than 170 staffers and 2,300 volunteers in support of its various relief activities. The people man welfare desks in evacuation centers, provide psychosocial support to evacuees, serve ready-to-eat meals and distribute food and nonfood stuff.

The sought-for funds would cover the food needs (rice, noodles and sardines) of 50,000 families or 250,000 people; nonfood needs of 20,000 families; and provisions for a safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion for 20,000 families.

It would also cover the recovery phase with provisions for shelter for 1,000 families, shelter repair kits for 5,000 families and livelihood opportunities for 1,000 families.

The appeal would include assistance for PRC disaster preparedness and capacity building.

Details of the emergency appeal can be accessed at https://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/11/MDRPH007PEA.pdf.

Donors may visit the PRC website (www.redcross.org) or go to PRC headquarters on Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila (tel. 5270000) or any Red Cross chapter.

Donations may be deposited in Banco de Oro, Peso Savings Account No. 453-0018647, Swift Code BNORPHMM; or Metro Bank Savings US Dollar Acct. No. 151-2-151002182, Peso Account 151-3-04163122-8; Euro Account 016-201650005-9; Yen Account 151-2-15130001-9, Swift Code MBTCPHMM.