AmeriCares Responds to Philippines Typhoon

Stamford, Conn. – Oct. 19, 2015 – AmeriCares is preparing to deliver emergency medicines and relief supplies for families in the northern Philippines affected by this weekend’s typhoon.

Typhoon Koppu, known locally as Typhoon Lando, made landfall early Sunday morning in Aurora Province with wind gusts up to 120 mph tearing off roofs, downing trees and drenching the region in several inches of rain. Massive flooding and widespread power outages have displaced thousands of families. The United Nations reported Monday that 104,300 people had been evacuated with 55,600 people staying in 255 evacuation centers.

AmeriCares will deploy an emergency response team from its Manila office on Tuesday to deliver hygiene supplies and medicines to hard-hit Nueva Ecija Province. The emergency response and global health organization keeps basic medicines on hand in the disaster-prone country to quickly replenish supplies after emergencies.

“Our team will deploy as soon as it is safe to travel,” said Paul Gwyn Pagaran, AmeriCares country director for the Philippines. “The sustained rain has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and we are ready to help.”

AmeriCares has been responding to emergencies in the Philippines since 1985, most recently working alongside the Philippines Department of Health and local partners to repair health centers damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan. AmeriCares has repaired or rebuilt more than 80 health care facilities since Haiyan – one of the most powerful storms on record – restoring access to care for nearly 2 million patients. AmeriCares also has a disaster risk reduction program in the Philippines to help health care providers prepare in advance for emergencies.

AmeriCares has been aiding survivors of natural disasters, disease outbreaks, political conflict and extreme poverty around the world for more than 30 years, saving lives and building healthier futures for people in crisis. The organization’s relief workers are among the first to respond to emergencies and stay as long as needed. On average, AmeriCares responds to 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year. AmeriCares also establishes long-term recovery projects in communities affected by disaster and brings disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities.