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The typhoon “Haiyan” has caused massive devastation in the Philippines. NRC’s emergency roster, NORCAP, are now sending experts in logistics and relief to take part in the humanitarian relief efforts.
“This is the biggest natural disaster in a very long time. 11 million people are affected. That means 11 million people have had their lives and livelihoods turned upside down. It is an enormous amount of people.” said Egeland in a BBC interview yesterday.
»LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE
(start at: 15:30)
On November 8, the typhoon Haiyan hit the eastern coastal areas of the Philippines with tremendous force. 11 million people have been affected by what was the strongest typhoon to ever be recorded in the Philippines. 673,000 people have been forced to flee from their homes.
“Our main contribution is to make a large number of experts available to UN agencies that are already active in the relief efforts”, says NRC Secretary General Jan Egeland.
NRC’s emergency roster, NORCAP, has received various requests from UN organizations. Two people are already in place in the disaster area and several more are on the way to the Philippines. To date, over 100 people on the NORCAP roster have stated their willingness to travel to the Philippines.
The extensive devastations make it difficult for aid agencies to access survivors. The situation is critical for victims who lack everything, primarily clean water, food and shelter. Organizations face major logistical challenges, making it essential to have competent personnel that can make sure that water, food and medicine gets to people in need.
“It is a logistical nightmare. When you need the harbours, the airports, the roads, the linkages the most, they are destroyed,” Egeland said to the BBC.
NORCAP’s experts will take part in the humanitarian relief operations, working to restore water supplies and to coordinate delivery of aid to the Philippine population.
“NORCAP experts have experience from previous crises. They were there after the tsunami hit in 2004. They were there after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. They know what it takes to get aid to those who need it the most”, says Egeland.
To the BBC, Egeland said the humanitarian community is better organised than ever before in getting aid would get to those in need, but that it is now up to donor states to contribute to the emergency appeal by the UN:
“If the world is generous enough and gives money. Never before have we had such a well-coordinated international community.”
About NORCAP:
- NORCAP strengthens the UN, international organizations and national governments through rapid deployment of professional and experienced personnel.
- NORCAP is an emergency roster consisting of 650 women and men ready to deploy to international operations in as little as 72 hours.
- Since 1991, NORCAP has sent its experts on more than 7500 assignments globally, making us one of the most sought-after standby partners in the world
Read more at www.nrc.no
