Situation Update
On 17 December, Typhoon Washi hit Mindanao region, southern part of the Philippines, with heavy rains, flash floods and landslides. According to the latest figures, more than 330,000 people were affected, with 957 people died and more than 1,500 injured. About 42,700 people are now currently staying in 62 evacuation centers. Providing water, food, essential relief materials and temporary shelters to those displaced people continue to be the priority in the field.
Red Cross Actions
The International Red Cross is working closely with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in providing emergency relief services to those affected by the typhoon, and is seeking HK$23.6million globally to assist 25,000 typhoon affected people for 9 months. To date, the following activities have been carried out by PRC and the International Red Cross:
- Mobilized more than 600 staff and volunteers to support this relief operation, including search and rescue activities, distribution of relief items, and managing of evacuation centers.
- Set up 4 evacuation centers with welfare desks and first aid stations to accommodate more than 7,000 typhoon affected population.
- Provided hot meals to more than 2,300 people and distributed food items to about 800 people.
- Distributing at least 5,000 packs of non-food relief items, such as hygiene kits, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils and blankets to more than 25,000 people.
- Providing clean water to at least 13,000 affected people.
Hong Kong Red Cross Action
The Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) has mobilized HK$200,000 to support the International Red Cross’ emergency relief efforts in the Philippines. The HKRC is in close contact with the PRC and International Red Cross to monitor the situation. No appeal has been launched in Hong Kong at this moment.
Emergency tracing service is offered to people in Hong Kong looking for missing families in the Philippines due to this disaster. To download the emergency tracing form, please visit:
www.redcross.org.hk/tc/tracing_service/emergency_tracing_intro.html (Chinese) or
www.redcross.org.hk/en/tracing_service/emergency_tracing_intro.html (English).
Enquiry
Please call 2802-0016, or fax to 2802-0017, or email to relief@redcross.org.hk.
For tracing service enquiries, please call 2507-7135 or email to tracing@redcross.org.hk.