Philippines Disaster: Emergency Response Essential, Immediate

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Emergency humanitarian assistance is underway in the Philippines, where Typhoon Haiyan has already caused destruction. Humanitarian NGO Action Against Hunger / Action contre la Faim has mounted emergency response, with emphasis on water, sanitation and hygiene, and other badly-needed supports.

Super typhoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda in the Philippines) crossed the Philippines with devastating violence two days ago. Early evidence suggests deaths may exceed 10,000. An estimated 4.3 million survivors have lost everything and need immediate assistance. 

With extensive experience working across the Philippines since 2000, Action Against Hunger's experts initiated an immediate emergency response and are taking action to help affected regions.

"Access to food and water is an immediate priority. Our teams are on the ground in Leyte, Eastern Samar and Masbate provinces, two of the worst hit areas in the country. We are in Bohol and Tacloban City. Two other ACF teams are en route to Eastern Samar and Masbate," says Susanne Courtney, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger Canada.

"Field reports indicate that livelihoods are completely devastated and markets are expected to be paralysed. Devastation in Tacloban City, Leyte province is severe. There is no food, water or electricity.  We have reports of looting and insecurity in the town."

Funds are urgently needed to support immediate distribution of food and non-food items (cooking supplies, sanitary products, etc) in Leyte and Masbate.  ACF aims to reach 500,000 individuals with WASH interventions (water, sanitation and hygiene), nutrition and food security support.

ACF teams are distributing drinking water and survival kits containing buckets, soap, chlorine tablets and other sanitation equipment. In anticipation of such disasters, ACF maintains stocks of such equipment to help stave off outbreaks of waterborne diseases. At an infrastructure level, ACF teams are setting up mobile water treatment plants, massive "bladders" for distributing clean water, and emergency pumps and filtration systems to ensure access to water in the coming weeks.

Additional staff and emergency materials are en route as reinforcements.

ACF has a long track record of emergency, early recovery and development work in the Philippines. Since 2000, ACF has provided humanitarian assistance to the conflict affected families in Central Mindanao and emergency response during natural disasters in Northern & Central Mindanao, Bicol, Central & Southern Luzon and Metro Manila.

For ongoing updates please visit our website: www.actionagainsthunger.ca
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About Action Against Hunger
Founded in France in 1979, Action Against Hunger/ Action contre la Faim (ACF) is a leading international humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger, with a special focus on children under five.  Our programs save lives and provide communities with long-term solutions to hunger and its underlying causes. We work in more than 45 countries and reach approximately 7 million people annually.

SOURCE: Action Against Hunger (AAH)

Camille DePutter, Director of Communications
Action Contre la Faim | Action Against Hunger Canada
Office: 416.644.1016 x 6
mobile: [phone]
[email protected]