Typhoon Haiyan: How Can I Help?

TYPHOON HAIYAN/YOLANDA RELIEF EFFORTS

A catastrophic typhoon hit the Philippines on November 8th.  Organizations from around the world are just beginning to assess the needs of survivors.  In the coming weeks, we will know the specific needs of survivors.  Financial donations will go further than material donations right now, as it is quicker and cheaper to purchase goods closer to the affected areas.  Here’s how you can help now:

The international Red Cross networks are coming together to support the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which has deployed rescue and relief teams to evaluate the damage in the areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.  You can donate to the Philippine Red Cross by selecting the Supertyphoon Yolanda campaign on their donation page, or through the fund set up for this effort by the American Red Cross.

The Salvation Army is on the ground serving storm survivors, primarily with food, water and shelter. Emergency Disaster Service teams have been providing help since the typhoon hit, but are challenged by the lack of accessible roads to transport goods and medical supplies.  You can also make a $10 donation by texting TYPHOON to 80888.

All Hands Volunteers is a US-based organization that mobilizes, trains, and sends volunteers to help with the rebuilding and recovery efforts in the hardest hit areas around the world.  Pace students worked with All Hands in March 2013 on the Hurricane Sandy recovery effort in Staten Island.  They have already established Project Bohol in the Philippines in response to October’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake, and are taking donations and applications for volunteer interest for the current crisis.

Oxfam America aid teams are on the ground in northern Cebu, northern and eastern Samar and Leyte, in the Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines. They’re working to provide immediate access to water and sanitation materials. You can support this effort by donating online to their Typhoon Haiyan Relief and Recovery Fund, or by phone at 1-800-776-9326.

The World Food Programme was already providing emergency food assistance in the Philippines following the October earthquake. With these emergency food stocks stretched thin, they’re now mobilizing additional supplies and are flying in 40 tons of fortified biscuits in the coming days.

Habitat for Humanity is already providing help to 30,000 families with shelter repair kits to rebuild their damaged homes. You can support this work by donating from the Philippines to their Re-Build Philippines Fund or from the U.S. by contributing to their Disaster Response Fund. You can also make a donation by phone at 1-800-HABITAT.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is helping children and their families in the Philippines receive shelter, clean water, nutrition and vaccines.  You can also donate directly to UNICEF in the Philippines here.

Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S., is on the ground helping with water purification, shelter materials and essential living supplies.

If you have loved ones in the affected areas, Google has set up a person finder to help locate missing persons: http://google.org/personfinder/2013-yolanda/