Proceeds will go toward disaster relief for the Philippines – Typhoon Haiyan
Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines on Friday, November 8, 2013, setting off landslides, knocking out power in several provinces, and cutting communications in the country’s central region. Thousands of lives have been lost, with a large number of injuries and destruction of property and infrastructure. Over 16 million people where affected, including five million who have seen their homes damaged or destroyed, and although needs assessments are ongoing, humanitarian needs are substantial.
Typhoon Haiyan was one of the deadliest natural disasters ever to hit the Philippines, tearing a path of destruction over 100 miles wide through the central Philippines after making landfall early in the morning on the 8th of November local time. It brought torrential rain, winds of over 170mph and a storm surge of up to 25 feet that devastated coastal areas.
“The government of the Philippines says the country requires all available assistance, from water-processing units, to food and emergency shelters. Difficulty in accessing some of the worst affected areas poses a great challenge. Access is still hindered to some parts of the country, especially to those areas where the typhoon made landfall.
Several rescue workers have said the scale of the devastation caused by Haiyan reminded them of the 2004 tsunami, which severely affected the nations bordering the Indian Ocean.