ICRC scales up effort to help Pablo victims

Typhoon Pablo has destroyed more than 90% of the infrastructure in the eastern half of the southern Philippines, with severe consequences for over a hundred thousand people. More than 900 deaths have already been confirmed.
In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with the Philippine Red Cross, is scaling up its operations on the ground. To meet the most critical needs of some 200,000 people, the ICRC is launching a preliminary appeal for P433 million (10 million Swiss francs).
“This typhoon left a staggering level of damage along the eastern coast of Mindanao,” said Alain Aeschlimann, the ICRC’s head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific. “In the worst-hit communities of Baganga, Cateel, Boston and Caraga, people are left with almost nothing. Not only have they lost their homes, but they are worried about their future since the crops they depend on to earn a living have been almost totally destroyed.”
“Our priority will be to provide people with emergency assistance, keeping in mind the mid-term goal of helping them to resume their normal lives,” said Aeschlimann. “Most of the funds we are calling for will be spent on food and basic shelter materials that can be provided right away.”