U.S. agencies and organizations worldwide are pitching in to provide relief to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
The revised death toll is 1,774, but authorities warned it could increase to about 2,500. Initial reports from the region estimated at least 10,000 perished after the typhoon.
With over 9.5 million people affected by Haiyan, the U.S. and other governments have deployed relief efforts and resources to the Philippines to respond to the devastation. According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 600,000 people have been displaced from their homes after surging waves and forceful winds up to 235 mph wrecked 70 to 80% of structures on Friday.
Brian Goldbeck, acting ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, issued a disaster declaration to provide an immediate $100,000 for relief efforts.
Related: Social media spearheads aid
“The situation is bad, the devastation has been significant,” Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras said at a news conference. “In some cases the devastation has been total.”
U.S. Marines are now on site delivering aid and more U.S. ships are heading to the region. On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the State Department will also deploy a team of U.S. veterans to Southeast Asia and work with the Philippines Typhoon Disaster Relief Fund established by a U.S. nonprofit, The Give Foundation, to coordinate donations to victims.
The U.S. government will also provide $20 million dollars to areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan, according to USAID. The $20 million will provide emergency shelter, food, relief commodities, water, and sanitation.
The American Red Cross has created a family tracing service in addition to other aid operations. If you are unable to reach a family member in the Philippines, you can contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross to open a tracing case. Representatives added that it has deployed two people to assist with assessments in the Philippines. It asks those who want to support relief efforts to mail a check to their local American Red Cross chapter, with “Philippines Typhoons and Flood” in the memo line. Go to redcross.org for local chapter information.
The Philippine Red Cross said it has mobilized teams on the ground to help with rescue and relief operations. Go to redcross.org.ph to donate directly to the Philippine Red Cross.
We're sending help to @philredcross. More info on that, looking for loved ones or how to help is here: http://t.co/e5XWxHX6mt #Haiyan
— American Red Cross (@RedCross) November 9, 2013
UNICEF is taking donations to help provide children with shelter, clean water, nutrition and vaccines. Representatives said its staff in the Philippines is being repositioned to help in relief efforts and 66 tons of emergency supplies are being sent from Copenhagen. An airlift set to arrive on Tuesday will include water purification systems, storage equipment and sanitation supplies. Donations can be made to UNICEF at unicefusa.org/Philippines.
#Haiyan: Our warehouse in Copenhagen is airlifting US$1.3m worth of additional supplies for another 10,000 families. http://t.co/4eEKNnth8f
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) November 11, 2013
World Food Programme, a United Nations organization, said it will send more than 40 tons of high energy biscuits and work with the Filipino government to help with logistics and emergency communications systems. Representatives said they have allocated $2 million for the disaster response and officials joined an assessment mission to survey damage in Leyte and Samar provinces. Donate by going to www.wfpusa.org or text “AID” to 27722 to instantly donate $10.
Aid workers face huge logistical challenges to reach survivors of Typhoon #Haiyan. Here's how you can help them: http://t.co/cjFEWoyL2Q
— World Food Programme (@WFP) November 11, 2013
Doctors Without Borders has deployed emergency teams in Cebu city, and an additional 50 people including medical personnel, logisticians and psychologists will arrive this week.
Save the Children is also mounting disaster relief efforts to help children and families in the region with emergency assistance.
Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations on its website as it begins moving supplies and staff to respond to the typhoon. Joseph Curry, with Catholic relief services says that victims are in desperate need of help rebuilding their homes.
World Vision said it will provide food and water to those in evacuation shelters. Representative said it is putting together resources to assist 1.2 million people, including food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and protection. One-time donations can be made at worldvision.org.
Habitat for Humanity plans to offer shelter repair kits for families who need to re-build damaged homes.
Help Filipino families affected by Typhoon #Haiyan #Yolanda. Donate thru #Habitat for cleanup & home repair kits http://t.co/b9Ep8Vezhe
— Habitat for Humanity (@Habitat_org) November 11, 2013
Operation USA said it will allocate donations directly to relief and recovery efforts.
Oxfam aid teams are on the ground deploying clean water and sanitation materials to affected areas. They’re asking for donations to scale up their efforts.
National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) has created a disaster relief fund for victims in the Philippines.
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is gathering donations for relief efforts. To contribute, go to www.jdc.org or call 212-687-6200.
Mercy Corps is accepting donations on its website as emergency responders move food, water, shelter and other supplies to the region.
Americares plans to deploy an emergency response team tio the islands. Go to http://americares.org or call (800) 486-4357.
Google has also launched a person finder.
Other countries such as Australia, Japan, Taiwan have plans to send out relief teams to assist with medical aid and assessments in the Philippines. Australia announced to dole $9.4 million dollars in addition to sending an emergency medical team. and aid to the U.N. Flash Appeal and other Australian non-governmental organizations for immediate assistance. Japan plans to fly out a 25-member medical team, and Taiwan will send $200,000 in aid.
Celebrities, politicians, and religious leaders have expressed their support and condolences to the ravaged nation, urging donations and assistance to relief efforts.
I ask all of you to join me in prayer for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan / Yolanda especially those in the beloved islands of the Philippines
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 9, 2013
Please help: join me to support Typhoon #Haiyan relief: http://t.co/rax3i4rm0C
— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) November 9, 2013
Supporting!! RT @Feferang: Please donate! Typhoon survivors in the Philippines need aid. pic.twitter.com/C5qhP7HoMA
— Deepak Chopra (@DeepakChopra) November 11, 2013
TeamTC sends our thoughts and support to the people of the Philippines suffering through Typhoon Haiyan @RedCross: http://t.co/O0NvwQL8Pm
— TomCruise.com (@TomCruise) November 8, 2013
The Associated Press, Reuters, and NBC News contributed to this report.
Clare Kim