Victims of Typhoon Haiyan Need Help: TAKE ACTION

Situation:

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines devastated six eastern and central islands with winds of 300 kilometers per hour, one of the most powerful storms on record.
City of Tacloban, which is the biggest city on Leyte Island and has a population of 200,000, is the most affected.  Not a single building in Tacloban is standing intact.
Local authorities estimate the death toll to be as high as 10,000 people after initial assessments.  A sharp increase in the number of dead is expected as relief teams reach all of the hard hit areas.  More than 800,000 are displaced from their homes and over 2 million people are in desperate need of emergency supplies.

Weekly Update: 8 December 2013

Restoring Communities and Infrastructure

• British Navy is donating a 25kva diesel generator and other emergency supplies to Humanity First Olotyan Island Power Restoration Project.

Water Boxes

• Distribution of Aqua Boxes (Water Purification and Survival Systems) has started.
• Distributing Aqua Boxes with rice and canned food for distribution in the central mountain areas which are walking access only.
• Four team members (Clair, Mark, Dana, and Trevor) set up camp in local church distributed 48 aqua boxes full of supplies and 25 empty boxes to Olotayan.
• 16 Aqua Boxes handed over to families effected in Banica Fishing Port. 

Shelter

• Roofs installed on 18 homes.
• Framing of 2 new houses started and rebuilding walls for several others.
• A school and tens of homes including 36 homes in Olotayan Island (Marksville) were water & weather proofed using Tarps. 
• We are equipping local carpenters with construction tools and materials so they can help communities with rebuilding projects. 

Emergency Supplies

• We are working with the local authorities in Dapdapan, Sapian and are providing critical support to the families in need.  So far we have delivered 100 Aqua Boxes to ensure delivery of clean and safe drinking water to the community, and other essential non-food items including tarps, sleeping mats, blankets. 

Weekly Update, Nov. 22, 2013:

Humanity First (HF) disaster response team has established its command center in Roxas City in the Visayas Province. HF is closely coordinating its efforts with several UN agencies including UNICEF, OCHA, the UN Clusters, as well as other organizations including local and provincial governments. HF is now playing an important role in aid delivery in the Western Visayas regions.

Community Water Purification Systems:

To date, Humanity First has installed four (4) Community Water Purification Systems: two (2) in the province of Capiz; one (1) in the province of Iloilo; and one (1) in Olotayan Island near Roxas City. Each unit has the capacity to deliver 5,000 liters of clean drinking water per day, enough for 1600 people.

Temporary Learning Spaces:

HF is working with UNICEF on establishing two small temporary learning spaces (TLSs) in Olotayan Island. British Telecom generously donated two (2) large tents to HF for the purpose. The TLS will classrooms, much needed daycare space, a kindergarten classroom and a generator which will be the only source of power for inhabitants of the island.

Delivery of aid to stranded populations:

During one of the assessment missions, the HF team identified Barangay Island which is a community of 1,400 people and had not received any aid. All of the 159 homes on Barangay Island were destroyed and the population was stranded without access to food and water. HF and Canadian military using helicopters delivered food and water to the island organized mobile medical clinics.

Establishment of Shelters:

HF has started building shelters with locally procured materials. Initially we built 10 shelters as a pilot project and they were very appreciated by the local community and aid agencies as they are more durable compared to tents and much cheaper. HF is aiming to build up to 300 shelters depending on availability of funds.

What Humanity First is doing?

Humanity First (HF) Philippines Disaster Response Team is on its way to the disaster zone for initial assessment.  A team from Indonesia is leaving for the disaster zone in the next few days and teams from Canada and the USA are on standby for deployment.  Other HF countries have also called upon their volunteers and donors for support.

How you can help?

We desperately need your help to support our disaster relief mission. Your financial donations will help provide immediate relief and save lives! Please support the efforts of Humanity First by contributing to our Disaster Relief Fund ONLINE or mail your checks directly to:

Humanity First USA
300 E. Lombard Street, Suite 840
Baltimore, MD 21202

Raise Awareness:

Do your part by spreading the word about Humanity First's disaster response and human development efforts in the USA and globally.  It is as simple as spreading the word in your circle of family and friends; visiting Humanity First website for updates, changing your Facebook status; 'Like' and 'Share' our Facebook updates; following HFUSA on Twitter and retweeting our updates.