Typhoon Haiyan: Obama says U.S. is providing significant humanitarian assistance WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says he and his wife, Michelle, are deeply saddened by the deaths and damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines this weekend. Continue reading Obama says the United States is providing significant humanitarian assistance and is prepared to further assist relief and recovery efforts. Haiyan struck the eastern seaboard of the Philippines on Friday and quickly barreled across its central islands, packing winds that gusted up to 170 miles per hour. The death toll has climbed into the thousands, and about 4 million people were affected by the storm. Obama praised the Philippine people for their incredible resiliency. Brian Goldbeck, acting ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, issued a disaster declaration to provide an immediate $100,000 for relief efforts. Officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development are deployed around the country to monitor the damage. Other charities working to provide relief in the Philippines include: UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME The United Nations World Food Programme said it has allocated $2 million for the disaster response and officials joined an assessment mission to survey damage in Leyte and Samar provinces. WFP said it will send more than 40 tons of high energy biscuits and work with the Filipino government to help with logistics and emergency communications systems. It asks for donations at wfpusa.org or by texting the word AID to 27722 to instantly donate $10. UNICEF UNICEF said its staff in the Philippines is being repositioned to help in relief efforts and 66 tons of emergency supplies are being sent from Copenhagen. An airlift set to arrive on Tuesday will include water purification systems, storage equipment and sanitation supplies. Donations can be made to UNICEF at unicef.org/support. RED CROSS The American Red Cross said it has deployed two people to assist with assessments in the Philippines and activated its family tracing services. It asked those who want to support relief efforts to mail a check to their local American Red Cross chapter, with Philippines Typhoons and Flood in the memo line. Go to redcross.org for local chapter information or redcross.org.ph to donate directly to the Philippine Red Cross. CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations on its website, emergencies.crs.org, as it begins moving supplies and staff to respond to the typhoon. WORLD VISION World Vision said it is putting together resources to assist 1.2 million people, including food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and protection. It asked for one-time donations to be made at worldvision.org. AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has begun collecting donations for relief efforts. To contribute, go to jdc.org or call 212-687-6200. MERCY CORPS Mercy Corps said it has launched emergency response efforts to provide food, water, shelter and basic supplies to typhoon survivors. To contribute, go to mercycorps.org/typhoon or call (800) 292-3355. Read more: wjla/articles/2013/11/typhoon-haiyan-obama-says-u-s-is-providing-significant-humanitarian-assistance-96686.html#ixzz2kNZgVHSB Follow us: @ABC7News on Twitter | WJLATV on Facebook
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:35:48 +0000
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