Typhoon Yolanda – How to Help the Survivors Resource Center

U.S. Federal Government Response Efforts

In the days following the typhoon, the United States has provided all resources that have been requested by the Government of the Philippines for relief efforts. In the hours following the storm, U.S. forces have focused on setting up command and control, in order to coordinate relief efforts and provide air and sea crafts for rescue missions.

• Secretary of Defense Hagel has ordered the George Washingtoncarrier strike group to the Philippines to support recovery operations.  As part of this strike group, 5,000 military personnel and 80 aircraft will be on hand to support relief missions.
• The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and a humanitarian assistance survey team are on the ground conducting damage assessment, and coordinating intelligence and search and rescue missions.
• Members of the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines are also assisting with food and water deliveries.
•  The United States Pacific Command (PACOM) has tasked the Littoral Combat Ship Freedom to support recovery operations.
• USAID has also activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team to conduct initial damage assessments and has provided $20 million in humanitarian assistance for the Philippines, which includes emergency food assistance, shelter, water, and hygiene kits.  Please visit the USAID websiteon Typhoon Haiyan for more information.

On November 18, 2013, U.S. Pacific Command officially activated the Joint Task Force (JTF) 505 to coordinate the continued military response in the Philippines.

• Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, USMC, commander of the 3d Marine Expeditionary Force, was designated commander of JTF 505.
• JTF 505 consists of 850 personnel on the ground, and 6,200 sailors as part of the George Washington carrier strike group.  
• An additional 1,000 Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are expected to arrive in the Philippines in about three days

U.S. military aircraft continue to provide substantial support to the relief effort.

• As of November 17, 2013, U.S. military aircraft logged nearly 650 flight hours and delivered about 655,000 pounds of relief supplies since Operation Damayan began last Saturday.
• In addition, U.S. military aircraft have transported 1,200 relief workers into Tacloban, one of the worst hit areas, and evacuated 4,9000 survivors from typhoon-impacted areas.  
• Five Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft are currently providing heavy lift capability to move relief workers and aid supplies.  
• Fourteen Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys are in the country delivering supplies to remote areas, helping bring aid workers and supplies to communities that would otherwise remain isolated

According to the USAID:

• On November 18, Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg announced the provision of an additional $10 million in U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian assistance for those affected by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.  The additional funding brings the total USG assistance for the crisis to more than $37 million.  The additional $10 million will support the transportation and distribution of relief commodities to typhoon-affected populations, among other life-saving activities.
• USAID/OFDA delivered more than 23,000 water containers to the Philippines, which will benefit approximately 11,700 households, or 58,500 people, in affected areas.
• As of November 17, Tacloban’s municipal water pumping station was operating at full capacity due to fuel recently provided by the Filipino military, providing access to safe drinking water for at least 200,000 people in Tacloban city and six neighboring districts, according to the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  To maintain Tacloban’s newly restored water production system, DoD plans to continue providing fuel to the city’s municipal water pump station on an interim basis, until the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and humanitarian partners can organize additional fuel suppliers.  Next steps include repairing water distribution lines and providing water to typhoon-affected populations residing in more remote areas.
• To date, USAID/OFDA has provided approximately $1.6 million for WASH activities in storm-affected areas, including $750,000 to UNICEF, one of the lead agencies for the WASH Cluster—the coordinating body for shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities in the Philippines.
• As of November 17, Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan had resulted in at least $154 million in agricultural damages, including damages to crops, livestock, fisheries, and irrigation facilities, according to the NDRRMC.
• To date, USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP have committed $15 million toward WFP’s Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan response in the Philippines for logistics and relief commodity support, as well as food assistance.

**Please check back, as we will be continuously updating information regarding the humanitarian disaster in the Philippines. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and survivors.**