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CARE International Press Release
CARE PLANS TO REACH 30,000 FAMILIES HARDEST HIT BY TYPHOON HAIYAN
Nov. 10 2013 (Cebu, Philippines) - As the extent of the damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan begins to emerge, CARE emergency personnel and our partners are now working to deliver emergency aid to families impacted by one of the largest storms ever recorded.
An estimated 4.3 million people have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan, with hundreds already confirmed dead. Reports in the media estimate the death toll could be up to 10,000. CARE International teams have arrived in Philippines to assist with what is likely to be one of the biggest international emergency relief efforts in years.
CARE Philippines’ Disaster Reduction Adviser, Celso Dulce said the extent of Typhoon Haiyan was beginning to emerge, with Southern Leyte Province and Samar having felt the full force of Typhoon Haiyan.
“Our teams are reporting scenes of complete devastation, with entire communities flattened, and countless families having lost everything – loved ones, their homes and their livelihoods,” he said.
“Many parts of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar remain cut off, and without food, water or shelter. The need for immediate emergency supplies is critical.”
CARE’s preliminary planned response aims to provide support to 30,000 families with emergency assistance over the coming months and to help them recover in the longer term. He said support from the international community would be critical, and urged people to support CARE’s Typhoon Haiyan Appeal, which would provide shelter and relief and help families begin the process of rebuilding their lives.
“Our current focus is on providing the immediate essentials – shelter, water and food – to communities hit hardest by this disaster. International support will be essential to preventing further loss of life and helping families begin to rebuild their lives over the coming weeks and months.”
Vietnam
Typhoon Haiyan is now bringing high winds and rains to parts of Vietnam, and is now expected make landfall early Monday morning, Vietnam time. CARE Vietnam Country Director, Claudia Futterknecht said preparations for the storm’s arrival had been outstanding.
“The response and preparations in Vietnam have been excellent. Over 500,000 people have been evacuated throughout central Vietnam. We will continue to work closely with the Government of Vietnam and partners to assess the impact of Typhoon Haiyan and provide emergency relief support as necessary.”
CARE has worked in the Philippines since 1949, providing emergency relief when disaster strikes and helping communities prepare for disasters. CARE's past responses in the Philippines have included typhoon Bopha in 2012 and typhoon Ketsana in 2009.
CARE has been working in Vietnam since 1989 delivering long-term development programs to vulnerable and poor communities in the country in close coordination with the government authorities.
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE's emergency response teams specialise in providing life-saving food, water, shelter and health care. CARE has more than six decades of experience helping people prepare for disasters, providing lifesaving assistance when a crisis hits, and helping communities recover after the emergency has passed. CARE, which works in 84 countries around the world, places a special focus on women, children and other vulnerable populations, who are often disproportionately affected by disasters. In 2012, our emergency response and recovery projects reached nearly 14 million people in 40 countries. To learn more, visit www.care-international.org.
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Media contacts:
Sandra Bulling (in Cebu, Philippines): local mobile +63 9198864145, Geneva mobile +41 79 205 6951, bulling@careinternational.org.
