World Vision has launched a global appeal to raise more than $20 million towards urgent relief to survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, as a tropical depression heads toward the already-devastated region of Mindanao.
World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello said a major relief effort would be needed in the worst affected areas for anything from six months to a year.
"Whole towns have been wiped out and hundreds of thousands of people are displaced,” Mr Costello said. “Countless survivors have also been left without basics such as food, water and shelter.”
Mr Costello is travelling to the Philippines to see the devastation for himself. “I am bracing myself for catastrophic scenes when I land later today,” Mr Costello said. “I am urging Australians to once again show their generosity to those in need by donating to World Vision’s Typhoon Haiyan relief effort.”
The extent of the damage and loss of life is still being assessed but the death toll is already estimated to be 10,000 people, and is expected to sharply increase as aid workers reach more affected areas.
World Vision will carry out its first distribution tomorrow and already has teams on the ground in three of the worst affected regions. The immediate priorities will be food, shelter, clean water, blankets, mosquito nets, sanitation and child protection.
World Vision Philippines Emergency Communications Specialist Aaron Aspi said the level of destruction he faced in Cebu was confronting.
“We saw lots of children begging for food and water,” Mr Aspi said. “Devastation is immense. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Families were told to leave the danger zones to higher ground, but with the magnitude of this Typhoon, even some of the evacuation centres were washed out.”
“There is massive mourning over loss of lives. It’s difficult to see people crying and in shock over this catastrophe,” he said.
To donate to the World Vision Australia’s Typhoon Haiyan Appeal, call 13 32 40 or go to www.worldvision.com.au
**World Vision staff in the Philippines are available for interview as are response staff in Australia**
Media contact: Gabrielle Brophy – 0407 575 112 / gabrielle.brophy@worldvision.com.au