Int’l Red Cross head visits ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

ICRC President Peter Maurer interacts with a young patient at the Basey District Hospital in Samar. The ICRC and PRC are doing major repair works at this facility, which was devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013. PHOTO BY: ICRC/H.S. Toeli

MANILA, Philippines – The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is in the country for a three-day assessment of the ongoing rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in areas devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan).

“During his three-day visit in the Philippines, ICRC President Peter Maurer went to Typhoon Haiyan-affected areas in Samar island where the rebuilding efforts of the ICRC and the Philippine Red Cross are moving at a fast pace,” the ICRC said in a statement Monday.

“Since the emergency, the ICRC and PRC provided humanitarian assistance to the survivors in Samar Island. It continues to help communities rebuild their lives by providing shelter, supporting livelihoods, and enhancing access to clean water and healthcare facilities,” it said.

Maurer spoke with staff and patients of Basey district hospital, which is being repaired with ICRC-PRC support, and went to Santa Cruz, Giporlos, where storm-resilient shelters have been built, ICRC said.

He will also meet with high-level government officials on Tuesday to discuss humanitarian issues.

Nearly a year since Yolanda tore through several provinces in the Visayas region, rehabilitation efforts continue at a steady pace particularly in Tacloban, Leyte, the city which bore the brunt of Yolanda’s winds and storm surges.

At least 6,000 people were killed by Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013 regarded as the strongest storm to make landfall in recorded history.

Maurer will give his assessment on the rehabilitation efforts on Wednesday August 27, the ICRC said.

Red Cross meets to tackle rebuilding needs of ‘Yolanda’ victims  

‘Yolanda’ survivors still struggling—Red Cross