Red Cross to build 'better' homes in Yolanda-affected areas

 News
Feb 112014
 
Now that the recovery phase has started in areas devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the Philippine Red Cross is setting its eyes on building “better” houses for the survivors.

At a press conference in Manila on Wednesday, PRC chairman Richard Gordon said that after the initial emergency response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Red Crescent Movement (RCM) would prioritize building permanent homes for the survivors of the killer typhoon.

He said the houses they are planning to build will be “better” as each will be erected away from danger zones and can withstand winds of up to 250kph. The PRC, which Gordon leads, is ICRC’s chapter in the Philippines.

Officials of the ICRC and the RCM met Wednesday to discuss future support for typhoon victims.

Also at the meeting in Manila, PRC’s secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang told reporters the two international aid organizations are set to rebuild some 50,000 houses; repair 70,000 more damaged homes; and relocate 5,000 families away from areas now considered as danger zones.

She said the funds for rebuilding and repairs will be sourced from the 300 million Swiss francs raised for the Yolanda survivors.

On the other hand, Gordon said 45 percent of the total funds raised will be for the housing project in Yolanda-affected areas. — Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News

ICRC ship arrives, to give aid to folk in Yolanda-hit Leyte, Samar

 News
Nov 232013
 
ICRC ship arrives, to give aid to folk in Yolanda-hit Leyte, Samar

TACLOBAN CITY – More aid arrived Saturday for residents affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), this time from a vessel of the International Committee of the Red Cross bearing food and health care facilities. ICRC spokesperson Atishay Abbhi said the vessel—much of whose equipment is for residents in the Samar area—carried basic health care facilities including a surgical unit and water tank, as well as 20 tons of food. “We initially focused on immediate relief. Now our next step is health,” Abbhi said, noting the vessel is carrying teams of engineers, health experts and even forensic experts to help manage the remains of fatalities. He said the ICRC teams will be working with counterparts in the Philippine Red Cross. Abbhi said the vessel has a surgical unit heading for Samar, as well as materials for restoring water service to Basey also in Samar. “We have a team proceeding to Balangiga to help restore thw water networks,” he said. Personnel from the vessel will also Teams will also bring food items to Salcedo and Guiuan in Samar, he added. Guiuan was the area where Yolanda first made landfall last Nov. 8. Yolanda left at least 5,000 dead in its wake after ravaging parts of Visayas and Southern Luzon. — VC, GMA News