Typhoon Haiyan: Plan Increases Aid Response to $75M in Face of Scale of Destruction

Aid reaching hard-hit communities, but major scaling-up now needed

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's organization, Plan International, has increased the scale of its emergency response to Typhoon Haiyan to $75 million to meet the magnitude of the disaster, it announced today.

The organization, which has operated in the Philippines for more than 50 years, launched an initial $25 million appeal to provide immediate relief to typhoon survivors for six months, which it is well on target to meet. But following further rapid assessments of impacted communities, it is now scaling up a larger, five-year operation.

Plan International CEO Nigel Chapman, currently in the Philippines, said: "The generosity and swift response from our supporters, the public, donor agencies, and governments has been superb. It has enabled us to quickly get initial, vital aid to those most in need on the ground.

"The people in this country are well-drilled and prepared to deal with multiple natural disasters but it is clear that this ferocious typhoon has hit them incredibly hard. They are as ever, dignified and optimistic but obviously reeling in its wake and needing help.

"There is still a huge need for basic aid - food, water, shelter. But beyond that, we are must ensure that we support the people of the Philippines to get back onto their feet with long-term assistance to rebuild their lives and particularly ensure the children affected are protected and do not become a lost generation."

All of Plan Philippines' program units, home to about 40,000 sponsored children, have been affected across four provinces (Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Cebu, and Leyte).

Plan placed vital supplies in communities before Haiyan hit, enabling thousands of shelter and water kits to be distributed immediately. It has since delivered additional aid to thousands and aims to reach more than 250,000 people including 105,000 children with immediate help including food. Plan will also be working with authorities on livelihoods, housing, and rehabilitation of schools.

The typhoon has affected 13 million people, damaged or destroyed 1.1 million homes and displaced more than 3 million people – including an estimated 1.8M children – 160,000 of them now living in evacuation centers.

Additional work is focusing on child protection and child-centered projects. This includes giving 'emotional first aid' projects for children, creating safe play and educational areas, and closely monitoring increases in child trafficking, child labor, and potential abuse of boys and girls in the aftermath of the disaster.

On average, 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, with two or three of them devastating. Haiyan is the most powerful this year. Plan has been working in the Philippines since 1961. Projects benefit some 420 communities nationwide with more than 80,000 families.

To find out how to donate, visit planusa.org/typhoonrelief.

About Plan International USA
Plan International USA is part of the Plan International Federation, a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to end the cycle of poverty for children and their families. Plan works at the community level to develop customized solutions and ensure long-term sustainability. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by communities for generations to come and range from clean water and health care programs to education projects and child protection initiatives. For more information, please visit www.PlanUSA.org.

SOURCE Plan International USA