Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines - Deployment of Emergency Relief Items - Canadian Red Cross 2013

November 19 2013 – On November 8 2013 Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) made landfall in the Philippines killing a reported 3 976 people and affecting 12.9 million people in 41 provinces. Some four million people have been reported as displaced from their homes and are seeking shelter in evacuation centres or with host families. This number is expected to rise. The typhoon caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the hardest-hit areas making it very challenging to access affected people with emergency assistance. The latest reports indicate that the typhoon destroyed more than one million homes and that electricity and water systems are not functioning in many affected areas. The Government of the Philippines has identified the most significant needs as safe drinking water shelter food medical assistance and support to ensure adequate hygiene and sanitation. In response to the crisis DFATD has deployed emergency relief items from its stockpile managed by the Canadian Red Cross to meet the immediate needs of people most affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The items include blankets tents water purification tablets shelter kits jerry cans tarps and buckets. The emergency items will be provided to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada CARE Canada and Save the Children Canada which will distribute the relief items in the Philippines where they are most needed. This project covers the deployment and subsequent restocking of emergency relief items to the Philippines as facilitated by the Canadian Red Cross Society.

The expected outputs of this project include: distribution of emergency relief supplies to meet the immediate needs of 25 000 typhoon-affected beneficiaries. Expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.