MANDALUYONG, Philippines — With Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on 11 November, 2AM, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) ramps up its efforts to provide relief for families and communities heavily affected by the typhoon.
The following summarizes PRC’s ongoing response as of 11 November, 8AM.
PRC’s Safety Services established 46 first aid stations spread across affected provinces, taking the vital signs of 692 individuals, treating 21 injured patients, transporting 4 patients to hospitals, and deploying 8 ambulances for medical transport.
PRC’s Emergency Response Units (ERU) have assisted a total of 247 individuals in Batangas and Negros Occidental, taking them from at-risk areas to nearby evacuation centers. Further reports from PRC’s Operation Center stated that they have finished 2 clearing operations in Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya.
PRC’s Disaster Management Services (DMS) have provided 65 shelter strengthening kits to families in Isabela and Quirino. They have also supported evacuations and preparedness efforts in Olongapo, Aurora, Masbate, Abra, Cagayan, and Kalinga. OpCen reports also stated that DMS has given out food rations across Tarlac. Lastly, DMS conducted 22 rapid damage assessment and needs analysis in areas such as Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
PRC’s Welfare Services set up 41 welfare desks across evacuation centers from different affected provinces. They have provided psychological first aid for 1,234 individuals and reached 2,700 children with their child-friendly spaces. As of current reports, 21 food trucks have been mobilized, serving 24,124 hot meals for individuals and families in need. Aside from this, 2,399 bread donations were also distributed.
PRC’s Health Services have also been very active during operations for Typhoon Uwan. 7 doctors and 31 nurses have provided medical consultations and distributed medicine to 284 individuals. PRC Health teams also conducted disease prevention sessions, reaching 6,388 individuals across multiple provinces. As a means to prevent leptospirosis cases, 1,248 individuals received doxycycline prophylaxis. 1,613 face masks were also distributed in Pasay, Pangasinan, Laguna, Rizal, and Kalinga.
PRC’s National Blood Services deployed 223 blood units across La Union, Quirino, Cagayan, and Nueva Vizcaya for augmentation.
PRC’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) unit provided 754 bottles of water for Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan and over 300 hygiene kits across Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, and Tarlac. Furthermore, they have also conducted hygiene promotion activities, reaching 1,915 individuals. PRC’s WASH unit has also started water distribution in affected communities, starting with 692 liters in Valenzuela.
As of today, 949 volunteers have been mobilized to support ongoing operations.
Communication lines through different PRC Chapters remain open through 18 radios operating without Wi-Fi or data, supported by satellite phones and Starlink units to ensure coordination even in remote areas.
Throughout the operations, PRC teams are continuing to monitor potential river overflows and shelter damages, especially in priority areas like coastal communities.
PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon reminds everyone that while Typhoon Uwan has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility, there is still much work to be done.
“The typhoon may have left PAR but there are still many parts of the country reeling from its effects. PRC’s work isn’t done until the affected are fully safe and are capable of standing back up again on their own two feet,” he said.
Typhoon Uwan may have passed but the Philippine Red Cross remains committed to its mission of protecting and upholding the dignities of affected communities.
If you are interested in making a donation to support the victims of Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) and Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong), head over to our website to see how: https://redcross.org.ph/ways-to-donate/
For any emergencies, call the PRC Hotline #143.
