DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) issued an emergency appeal to raise approximately $1.5m in Relief for 1,300 families (6,500 people) hit by Typhoon Hagupit in the Philipines.
QRC’s mission in the Philippines is closely examining the situation and communicating with the Philippine Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to identify the urgent needs and coordinate the humanitarian assistance for hundreds of thousands of displaced people, according to a release from the charity yesterday.
The toll of the typhoon included 16,500 destroyed houses, 33,100 damaged houses, 1.7 million displaced people now in 7,786 sheltering centers in Samar Island, with 98,147 displaced people still outside the sheltering centers.
The disaster left behind 28 killed, 157 injured, and four missing; damaged roads, transportation networks, and power supply; caused floods in 17 areas, which restricts access to the affected area to conduct the assessment.
Based on the currently available information, the top priorities for humanitarian intervention are sheltering; nonfood items; water, sanitation, and hygiene; and food security.
The recent typhoon is expected to worsen the humanitarian situation in the Philippines, as it is still dealing with the aftermaths of Typhoon Haiyan and the current threats of Mayon Volcano eruption.
The preparedness measures helped avoid the disastrous impacts of the typhoon, including timely evacuation, early warning systems, and prepositioning of emergency response teams. QRC’s mission in the Philippines is still conducting relief and sheltering projects for the victims of Haiyan, with funding from the Qatari Charity Alliance to Help the Peoples of Somalia and the Philippines, the latest of which was distributing a new batch of nonfood items to 1,548 families, comprising 3,150 blankets, 592 rainproof tarpaulins, 594 tents, 3,390 water tanks, and 4,488 mattresses.
Another project is already under way to build 650 housing units, seven classrooms, and a warehouse at a total cost of $2,162,847.
The Qatari Alliance was formed as a result of the Qatar Day of Solidarity with the People of Somalia and the Philippines, held on November 19, 2013, in response to the call of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The alliance has already organised many events to mobilise financial and nonfinancial support for the campaign.
The Peninsula
