News

Typhoon Haiyan: Order of Malta ready to deploy relief in Philippines

Thousands in need of immediate aid

Cologne, 11 November 2013

In the wake of the evastating typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines on Saturday, thousands are dead, or missing or injured. Worst hit was Tacloban, in Leyte Province, where conditions are severe.

A relief term of experts from the Order of Malta’s international emergency agency, Malteser International, was immediately dispatched and meets today with the Order’s Philippines Association in Leyte Province. They will coordinate relief measures on the ground, undertake a needs assessment in the most affected region around Tacloban City and prepare emergency relief for the survivors.

“Gaining access to the disaster region is extremely difficult at the moment, because Tacloban Airport was destroyed in the storm. So we have to find alternative ways of getting there,” says Cordula Wasser, Philippines programme manager for Malteser International.

Malteser International’s local partners report that Haiyan has also affected the evacuation centres and temporary camps on the neighbouring island of Bohol, recently struck by an earthquake. “This means that Malteser International will expand ongoing relief measures for the earthquake survivors,” Wasser says.

Malteser International is the humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta. With over 100 projects annually in some 25 countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, Malteser International has been standing by those affected by poverty, disease, conflict and disaster, helping them lead a healthy life with dignity – without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles build the foundation of its work.

For more information:www.malteser-international.org andwww.orderofmalta.int

Photo: Sky news