Being the strongest storm to ever hit Mindanao in the past decade,Typhoon Odette affected the lives of an estimated 16 million people in six regions, a vast majority of which are living below the poverty line, according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
PRC said that the typhoon left about 2.4 million of the most vulnerable people in need of assistance. It recalled that as early as Dec. 11, 2021 and a week before "Odette" hit, the PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sen. Richard Gordon, had been monitoring and preparing for the situation from afar and organizing routes for evacuation.
Consequently, on Dec. 17, 2021, PRC said that after assessing the situation and just one day after the typhoon struck the country, immediate measures were taken and the first humanitarian caravan was deployed to Bohol and Surigao del Norte, areas that bore the brunt of the storm, providing an urgently needed response to the families there impacted by the typhoon.
“We wanted to show our countrymen that the Red Cross is always ready and the first to help them, most especially in times of calamities and disasters. We wanted them to feel they are not alone, that we can supply them with food and water, both safe to drink and for hygienic needs," Gordon said.
"To provide them with on-the-spot shelters to temporarily replace destroyed homes. We will always try to find the best ways to ease the hardship of the displaced and motivate them so that they can recover from the shock of losing everything and in so doing, eventually, get back on their feet again,” he added.
PRC said that it provided many areas with food, potable water, temporary shelter and repair kits, first aid and medical supplies, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities as well as psychosocial support services. Cash assistance and grants have also been endowed so as to allow purchases at local markets.
Initially on its own and later in coordination with national and local authorities, PRC personnel from numerous regional chapters mounted search, rescue, emergency relief and road clearing operations as soon as weather conditions allowed.
Due to their rapid reaction teams, PRC was able to undertake prompt assessments confirming widespread devastation and tender their wide range of diverse solutions. PRC also coordinated with the municipal authorities to dispense relief and do an assessment of beneficiaries.
As of this date, various Philippine Red Cross chapters accomplished the following in their respective provinces:
- MPCGrants (Cash) to 1,217 families
- Hot Meals served to 114,463 individuals
- Standard food items given to 10,377 families
- Non-Standard food items for 762 families
- Bread to 865 families
- Rice amounting to 180 sacks
- Ready to Eat Meals provided for 7,117 families
- Bottled Water in 647 cases
- Water Distribution: 8,286,400 liters
- Hygiene Promotion for 180,158 individuals
- Hygiene Kits to 3,457 families
- Facemasks for 8,719 individuals
- Hand Sanitizers - 253 pieces
- Health/Medical Consultation for 579 individuals
- Patients Served: 17
- Bottles of IV Fluids - 470
- Blood for all types – 460 bags
- Family size Tents - 80
- Psychosocial support: 9,871 individuals
- Child Friendly activities: 6,918 individuals
- Welfare Desk: 27 served
- RFL/Tracing: 61 individuals
- Toys: 86 children
- BP monitoring for 3,486 individuals
- First Aid Management given to 152 individuals
- Transported - 53 individuals
- First Aid Stations - 45
- Volunteer Orientation to 1,938 individuals
- Retrieved of 3 individuals
- Assisted 10 individuals
- Clearing of debris via payloaders - 4,564 cubic meters
- Corrugated roofing materials for 198 families
- Shelter Tool Kits given to 1,502 families
- Kitchen Sets for 1,396 families
- Sleeping Kits given to 4,586 families
- Jerry Cans - 4,586 families
- Tarpaulins - 4,319 families
- Mattresses given to 1,491 families
- Bed sheets for 706 families
- Blankets to 2,311 families
- Pillows to 19 families
- Mosquito Nets for 1,368 families
- Clothing given to 251 individuals
- Body Bags - 64 pcs
- Blood: 460 bags
The Philippine Red Cross continues to appeal for donations from both local and international communities as the humanitarian operations in the areas devastated by the typhoon are still ongoing.
"The PRC will continue to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the people as it provides hope, relief, and rehabilitation while saving lives," it said.