The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) announced on Saturday, Oct. 26, that it has dispatched a second wave of humanitarian aid to provinces devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard “Dick” Gordon, the PRC, the country’s leading humanitarian organization, sent additional assets, including a 10-wheeler relief truck loaded with supplies, two 10,000-liter water tankers, two water treatment units, a service vehicle, and communication systems on Oct. 25.

In addition to standard relief items, the PRC aims to provide mother and baby kits to support pregnant women and new mothers affected by the disaster.

“These kits are essential for addressing the unique needs of mothers and babies in emergency situations, helping to ensure their health and well-being amid the crisis,” the PRC stated.

The PRC also reported dispatching a minivan containing 1,000 packs of loaf bread donated by a partner organization to the Bicol region.

‘Alarming’

Citing reports from the PRC Operations Center, Gordon noted that more than 68,000 families—or over 300,000 individuals—were affected by "Kristine."

“That’s pretty alarming,” Gordon said. “We are committed to saving lives; alleviating the suffering of our people is our goal. That’s why I decided to send more of our assets and volunteers on the ground to serve and save many others,” he added.

PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang emphasized that the organization continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of Filipinos, especially those in evacuation centers, by providing essentials like food and potable water.

As of Oct. 25, the PRC has served hot meals to over 14,450 evacuees, provided psychological first aid to 956 individuals, organized child-friendly activities for 691 children, rescued 428 people, conducted hygiene promotion sessions for 1,200 individuals, and delivered medical assistance to 481 patients.

The PRC also set up 53 welfare desks and 27 first aid stations.

In addition, 6,711 liters of clean water have been provided in evacuation centers and ports, and 25,000 Doxycycline capsules were distributed in the Bicol Region for leptospirosis prevention.

These humanitarian services, the PRC stated, were delivered across 33 typhoon-ravaged provinces nationwide.

On Oct. 23, the PRC deployed its first wave of a humanitarian caravan, which included an amphibious vehicle, two food trucks, two 6x6 rescue trucks, five rubber boats, an additional food truck, two water tankers, two water bladders, two water filtration units, a six-wheeler truck, two generator sets, and a 10-wheeler relief truck carrying 500 sets each of jerry cans, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, and sleeping kits, along with emergency telecommunications equipment such as satellite internet and satellite phones.

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https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/23/humanitarian-caravan-by-philippine-red-cross