Second Japanese medical team arrives to take over duties of the first in Tacloban

Shown are 37 members of the second batch of the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) medical team that will take over the duties of the first team currently based in Tacloban, one of the cities flattened by typhoon Yolanda.

Like the first team, the second batch--which arrived Wednesday 1:30 p.m. onboard a chartered Japanese Airlines flight--will undertake medical relief activities in Leyte, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said.

Besides dispatching medical relief teams, Japan has provided a total of $52.1 million in aid, including Emergency Grant Aid of $30 million, Emergency Relief Goods worth $600,000, Assistance through Japanese NGOs valued at $1.5 million, and some $20 million in a Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) of the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB).

source: interaksyon.com

Australia provides P88 million for flood relief efforts in Luzon

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, has announced Australia will assist Filipinos who have been affected by severe flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding areas by making available up to PhP 88 million (A$2 million) in food and emergency supplies, to be delivered through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

As part of its disaster preparedness program in the Philippines, Australia works with partners to pre-position emergency supplies, which enables a rapid response to natural disasters and emergencies.

The Australian Government has provided PhP 44 million (A$1 million) for emergency kits for distribution to families which include medical supplies, mosquito nets and water containers, and another PhP 44 million (A$1 million) for 1000 tons of rice.

Senator Carr expressed his particular concern for those families who had been without a home for up to two weeks. “We’re providing $1 million to WFP and we’re backing that up with nearly $1 million made available to the Red Cross for those in need,” he said.

“The Australian Government has made these items available through the PRC and WFP so that they can be immediately accessed in serious humanitarian situations, such as the current flooding in and around the capital,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Bill Tweddell said.

“We know that prompt response is essential to saving lives during disasters. Australia, through our arrangements with the Philippine Red Cross and WFP, is able to assist the Philippine Government to respond quickly and effectively.”

Officials of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) visited flood-affected areas this week. They have been working closely with the Philippine Government and other donors to ensure the Philippines has the support it needs to manage the crisis.

“We commend the Philippine Government for its quick response, including widespread search and rescue operations for those stranded by floods and buried by landslides,” Ambassador Tweddell said.

Over the past seven years, Australia has provided more than Php760 million in humanitarian and emergency aid to the Philippines. Australia works closely with the Government and other partners to manage disasters and to help people adapt to climate change.

Australia’s program has a focus on Metro Manila and supports hazard and risk analysis, risk-sensitive land use planning, community-based disaster preparedness, capacity building on urban search and rescue, and providing safer settlements for those living in danger areas.

Australia and the Philippines have a strong relationship, underpinned by over 50 years of partnership in development cooperation. The aid partnership with the Philippines is one of Australia’s largest, with more than Php20 billion in official development assistance in the past five years. Australia’s current annual aid to the Philippines is estimated at Php5.5 billion – placing Australia among the top grant donors to the Philippines.

For more information about AusAID’s work on humanitarian and disaster response in the Philippines, visit the Australian embassy website.

source: gmanetwork.com

ABS CBN deluged with calls for help as Metropolitan Manila experiences the worst floods since killer typhoon of 2009

Metro Manila resident Josephine Cruz’s plea was loud and clear over ABS CBN’s flagship radio AM station, DZMM (630 kHz in Metro Manila).  Trapped in her house with her 83-year-old grandmother and 11 of her family members, she frantically cried, “Please rescue my family!” In the last 24 hours, as flood waters continued to rise in Metropolitan Manila as a result of torrential rains brought about by Typhoon Gener (international name:  Saola), similar pleas for help also came through the air.  By Tuesday morning, 60 people have perished, while thousands continue to be transported to evacuation centers.  ABS CBN Foundation International announces the reactivation of Sagip Kapamilya, a disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation program, as the rescue operations are now a race against time.

What began as a typical, seasonal monsoon for the 12 million residents of the Philippine capital quickly became a deadly deluge of torrential rains that caused the overflow of dams and rivers.  The overflowing La Mesa Dam swelled rivers in the cities of Quezon City, Malabon, Valenzuela and Caloocan which surround the metropolis.  More than 5,0000 residents along the Markina River were immediately relocated as water levels over-indexed by 10 percent above critical levels. By yesterday evening, 50 percent of Metropolitan Manila was under water and more than 30 percent of the capital was under waist- or neck-deep waters, earning its horrifying monicker, “waterworld.”

As of August 7 (Manila time), Sagip Kapamilya’s rescue operations has reached 12,552 residents.  Sagip Kapamilya staff and volunteers are responding to the emergency needs of people inside the evacuation centers.  Special attention is being given to children, expectant mothers and the elderly. The immediate needs in the centers include a steady supply of rice; canned goods and other non-perishable food items; clothes for adults, children and infants; blankets and mats; first aid and medicine.

The collective donation of overseas Filipinos has always been the single largest and most reliable source of support for Sagip Kapamilya.  “We humbly call on all overseas Filipinos and our friends to assist in any way to help Filipinos affected by the recent floods in Metropolitan Manila,” says J. Robbie Fabian, President of ABS CBN Foundation International.  “Because the needs are immediate we encourage gifts of cash at this time.  Our commitment is to remit the donations within 24 to 48 hours of accepting them so items of greatest need can be purchased immediately on the ground.”

ABS CBN Foundation International remits 100% of all donations to Sagip Kapamilya in Manila for use in the rescue, relief and long-term rehabilitation of communities affected by natural disasters.  All donations in the US are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by US laws.

Donations of checks or money orders can be sent to ABS CBN Foundation International at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065.  Contributions also be made online at www.abscbnfoundation.org

source: asianjournal.com

US to provide P4.3-M relief aid to flooded areas in PH

The United States on Tuesday said it is providing US$ 100,000, or about P4.3 million, to the Philippines to support disaster relief efforts in Metro Manila following severe flooding caused by the southwest monsoon this week.

U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. issued a disaster declaration after reports of widespread flooding in the National Capital Region, and offered to provide immediate relief assistance.

“On behalf of the U.S. government and the American people, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to those who are displaced and who have lost homes and livelihoods due to the floods,” Thomas said in a statement.

Most parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon have been submerged in flood waters, forcing the cancellation of classes and work.

According to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), there was is no tropical cyclone prevailing in the country but said the heavy downpour was due to the southwest monsoon being pushed by typhoon "Haikui" in Japan.

PAGASA has issued a red warning signal for Metro Manila on Tuesday, warning residents in low-lying areas to evacuate.

A red warning means more than 30 millimeters of rains are expected and serious flooding may occur.

Classes and work were suspended in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, and Tarlac. Several schools have also suspended classes and work for Wednesday.

Thomas said the US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), would conduct an initial damage assessment in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. “As a good friend and longstanding development partner, the United States will work with the Philippine government to determine where our assistance is most needed. We remain committed to helping the Philippine people overcome this difficult time.” Thomas said.

The US has been a key partner of the Philippines in providing immediate humanitarian response during natural calamities.

source: interaksyon.com

De Los Santos Medical Center on E. Rodriguez without food, power, needs help

MANILA, Philippines - The De Los Santos Medical Center along E. Rodriguez Sr. Boulevard in Quezon City has run out of food for its patients and staff and its power supply has also been cut off, a radio station reported past 12:30 a.m., Wednesday.

Also, one of its two generators had run out of power Tuesday evening after it was submerged in flood waters. Its second generator will also lose power in one to two hours.

The hospital has 140 staffers and 72 patients including three babies in incubators, one of whom is suffering from hypothermia. Another patient, who is at the hospital's intensive care unit, needs to be immediately transferred to another medical facility.

E. Rodriguez Sr. remains flooded as of late Tuesday evening. The road 500 meters from the hospital is inaccesible.

Those who want to provide the medical center with relief goods and lend generator to the hospital can contact nurse ChrisTaño via cellphone number 0917-546-2887.

source: interaksyon.com