The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday, Oct. 23, announced that it is dispatching a comprehensive humanitarian caravan to the provinces most affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
“The impact of this typhoon took us by surprise,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon said in a statement.
Despite this, Gordon assured that the PRC is always ready to respond. “We've already deployed many of our rescue teams, especially Water, Search, and Rescue (WASAR) teams, to help civilians stranded in their homes or on the streets,” Gordon said.
PRC, he added, will also be deploying 6x6 trucks, amphibians, rubber boats, food trucks, and water tankers.
“We have also mobilized our PRC chapters and Red Cross 143 volunteers in nearby regions to assist in rescue and relief efforts. We're all hands on deck,” he added.
Ready to respond
During a meeting, Gordon and PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang, who are overseeing the PRC's operations in the Philippines amid the 2024 Statutory Meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, directed the deployment of additional essential resources to Camarines Sur and Albay in response to requests for assistance from local officials.
The PRC added that relief trucks are being readied to transport food and non-food items, including jerry cans, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and kitchen sets, to the thousands of families residing in evacuation centers.
“The safety of people in evacuation centers is very important to us. We will provide them with basic necessities like hot meals, food, and clean water,” Pang said.
“Through our welfare units, we aim to give families some comfort in these trying times to ensure their physical health and psychological well-being are taken care of,” she added.
Continued monitoring
Meanwhile, Gordon also assured that the PRC is closely monitoring the movement of lahar from Mayon Volcano in Albay amid the storm.
Since “Kristine” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on October 21, the PRC has reported that 6,437 families, totaling 23,992 individuals, have been displaced across 234 evacuation centers, primarily in Albay and Sorsogon, as of 3 p.m. on Oct. 23.
During the storm, PRC volunteers in Sorsogon bravely waded through waist-deep floodwaters and strong currents to rescue a pregnant woman from her home on Oct. 22. She was safely transported to the provincial hospital afterward.
As of 3 p.m. on Oct. 23, the PRC said a total of 4,210 individuals in evacuation centers across Northern Samar, Sorsogon, Negros Occidental, Albay, Southern Leyte, and Western Samar have received hot meals.
Additionally, 460 people in Sorsogon have received psychological first aid.
The PRC said the emergency response units (ERU) in its chapters in Catanduanes and Camarines Norte have also assisted 58 people.