Stamford-based AmeriCares first assistance shipment carrying medical aid for 20,000 typhoon survivors is on its way to the Philippines. More aid shipments are in the pipeline.
The first air shipment left a Dutch warehouse and is expected to arrive in the Philippines Thursday, Nov. 14, carrying antibiotics, wound care supplies and pain relievers. Three more medical aid shipments are planned in the coming days, including two shipments from Stamford.
“There are widespread shortages of medicines ”“ the hospitals still standing have nothing left on the shelves,” said Garrett Ingoglia, AmeriCares”™ vice president of emergency response. “The floods destroyed most of their supplies just as demand is spiking with injured survivors seeking help. And with the water supply compromised in many areas there is an increased risk of waterborne diseases.”
AmeriCares has emergency response experts in Cebu and Manila working with partner organizations to restock hospitals and clinics and supply medical professionals working in the affected areas. AmeriCares has also provided emergency funding to a local partner that is distributing critical relief supplies to 1,000 families in Samar.
Super-typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, made landfall on the island of Samar. Some of the most severe damage was in Tacloban, where the city”™s only functioning hospital is reportedly turning away injured patients.
AmeriCares has delivered aid to the Philippines since 1985 and has an established network of contacts throughout the country that supports 150 health care facilities, allowing it to quickly speed relief to disaster survivors.
To date, AmeriCares has delivered more than $229 million in humanitarian aid to the Philippines including relief supplies for survivors of last month”™s earthquake. Other recent emergency responses include Typhoon Bopha in 2012, Typhoon Washi in 2011, back-to-back typhoons in 2009 and Typhoon Frank in 2008.
To donate to AmeriCares Philippines Disaster Relief Fund go to americares.org/philippines or call (800) 486-HELP.
