Amid ongoing typhoon response efforts, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) announced on Monday, Nov. 18, that it has assisted 7,040 individuals affected by Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi).
“Pepito is the 16th tropical storm this year and the sixth typhoon in less than a month to hit our country,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon said in a statement.
“We activated our response and relief teams to assist the affected communities in this super typhoon while our responses to the other five typhoons are underway,” Gordon said. “It’s not easy, but the Red Cross makes it possible,” he added.
Gordon noted that when “Pepito” made landfall on Nov. 16, the PRC immediately mobilized its staff and Red Cross 143 volunteers in several areas and provinces nationwide.
Based on the latest data from the PRC Operations Center, the humanitarian organization has provided 7,040 hot meals and 431 food donations to the affected people.
PRC also provided psychological first aid to 5,986 citizens, hygiene promotion sessions to 120 evacuees, and a child-friendly space for 56 children, among other services.
The PRC said it has also distributed 20,000 liters of clean water, medicines, vitamins, and shelter-strengthening kits.
PRC mentioned that its rescue vehicles were strategically prepositioned, while welfare desks, health desks, and first aid stations were also set up in various locations.
Continued operations
Meanwhile, PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang assured the public that the Red Cross will continue its operations to ensure that “people have access to basic necessities like food and clean water while they’re facing the aftermath of the series of cyclones.”
PRC is in the middle of its ongoing humanitarian action for vulnerable communities affected by previous disasters brought on by tropical cyclones Kristine (Trami), Leon (Kong-Rey), Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), and Ofel (Usagi).
PRC said its various humanitarian assistance efforts were delivered to priority areas in Quezon, Batangas, Masbate, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon.
As of Nov. 17, the PRC served 102,172 individuals affected by “Kristine” and “Leon”; 3,568 people affected by “Marce”; and a total of 8,682 citizens affected by typhoons Nika and Ofel.