The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations to help people affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The powerful storm, one of the worst to hit the area, made landfall in the Philippines, causing wide-spread damage including landslides and flooding. It also affected people who were left homeless after an earthquake in October.
Damages as a result of Typhoon Haiyan. Photo: Philippine Red CrossThe humanitarian impact of the storm is expected to be colossal. The Philippine Red Cross is working with emergency officials and has mobilized its teams to support rescue efforts by authorities.
Some 125,000 families were evacuated to safer shelters as a pre-emptive measure. Red Cross volunteers and staff have been actively disseminating warnings and safety tips over the past several days in communities in the path of Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Typhoon Yolanda).
Supplies were pre-positioned ahead of Typhoon Haiyan. Photo: Philippine Red CrossThe typhoon continues to track to the northwest and efforts are underway to prepare for landfall in Vietnam, a country that has already been battered by two significant typhoons this fall.
The Canadian Red Cross is on stand-by to provide additional support, including supplies, personnel and its mobile field hospital, if requested.
Canadians can donate to the Typhoon Haiyan fund online, by phone at 1-800-418-1111 or at any Red Cross office across Canada.