Help Needed to Restore Communities Affected By Typhoon Hagupit

Timely and comprehensive emergency planning ahead of Typhoon Hagupit’s landfall in the Philippines has avoided a repeat of the devastation wrought last year by Typhoon Haiyan. Nevertheless, the powerful storm has wreaked havoc on homes and livelihoods, especially on those still recovering from last year’s disaster.

Plan International’s responders are already in the field assessing both the damage and the most pressing needs of survivors, in cooperation with the national and local governments and partner aid agencies. As of Dec 13, Plan has already distributed 1,370 hygiene kits, 1,370 water kits, 515 shelter kids and 30 pieces of tarpaulin sheets (with rope) in Eastern Samar, Western Samar and Masbate provinces.

Whilst the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from unsafe zones prevented the wholesale loss of   life experienced during Haiyan, communities have nevertheless suffered extensive damage to their homes, with no or little power, and landslides and damaged roads, which inevitably hamper relief efforts. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)*, 823,589 families were affected across nine regions. 18 deaths and 916 injured persons have been reported. There have been no reported casualties of sponsored children. Plan expects to extend its typhoon response for the next six months, covering 20,000 families in the provinces of Western Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.

Our field officers will be working intensively to ensure that the children are restored to as normal an existence as soon as possible and that the worst effects of the experience are ameliorated through the programmes that have been developed specifically to ensure the children’s mental, physical and emotional well-being.

*Reported figures updated on 13 December 2014.

To help its aid efforts in the wake of the typhoon, you can make donations as follows:

Online Donation
Make a donation with your credit card immediately.

Bank Transfer
Please make a direct deposit into HSBC account #640-068292-838.

To get a donation receipt for tax reduction, please mail the original bank receipt together with your name, address, telephone number and mark “Philippines typhoon Hagupit” to Plan International Hong Kong Limited, Rm 1104, 11/F, Cameron Commercial Centre, 458 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, HK.

Crossed Cheque
Please make cheque payable to Plan International Hong Kong Limited. Please write your name, address, telephone number and mark “Philippine typhoon Hagupit” at the back of the cheque and mail to Plan International Hong Kong Limited, Rm 1104, 11/F, Cameron Commercial Centre, 458 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, HK.