Governments, agencies begin relief effort for Philippine victims

Foreign governments and agencies have announced a major relief effort to help the victims of the Philippine typhoon. Here are some of the pledges they have made:

UNITED NATIONS

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has released $25 million from the UN’s emergency relief fund to provide emergency food assistance, supply emergency shelter materials and household items, assist with the provision of emergency health services, safe water supplies and sanitation facilities. The funding will also be used for critical protection, nutrition and emergency activities, the UN humanitarian office said.

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CANADA

Canada is sending members of its Disaster Assistance Response Team to the Philippines. Ottawa has also announced that it will match dollar-for-dollar donations from Canadians. That is on top of $5 million it promised in aid money.

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UNITED STATES

The United States has pledged $20 million in immediate aid and has ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the sail to the Philippines to provide assistance in the wake of the typhoon. It was expected to arrive in about two days. Officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development are deployed around the country to monitor the damage.

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BRITAIN

The United Kingdom is deploying a Royal Navy warship and donating a total of 10 million pounds’ (roughly $16 million) worth of humanitarian assistance in aid of the victims of the typhoon, British Prime Minister David Cameron said. Britain will also deploy Royal Air Force military transport aircraft in aid of recovery efforts, earmarking at least one C-17 cargo plane to move humanitarian aid and large equipment.

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AUSTRALIA

Australia announced assistance of 10 million Australian dollars ($9.4 million). That includes the deployment of an emergency medical team, aid to the U.N. Flash Appeal and aid to Australian non-governmental organizations for immediate life-saving assistance.

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UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM

The United Nations World Food Program 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. The Canadian spokesperson for The United Nations World Food Programme says in Canada donations can be made at www.wfp.org/typhoon or by texting “Relief Now” to 45678 to donate $10.

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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.

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JAPAN

Japan will donate $10 million to the Philippines and has sent a 25-member relief team of mostly medical staff.

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TAIWAN

Taiwan said it will send $200,000 in aid to help with relief efforts.

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ISRAEL

Israel plans to set up a field hospital near the disaster area that is likely to focus on trauma care. Israel has sent a team of six medical and logistics experts to study the best location to erect it.

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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 Red Cross chapter, with “Philippines Typhoons and Flood” in the memo line.

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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.

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DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

Doctors Without Borders said it has 15 members in Cebu city and will send an additional 50 people in the next few days. It said it also is sending 329 tons of medical and relief supplies on three cargo planes. To donate, go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate .

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Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version provided donation information under United Nations World Food Program that was relevant to those living in the U.S.

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