Philippines: AmeriCares Disaster Response and Medical Aid

Deadly Typhoon Strikes Philippines

Typhoon Bopha—one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year—slammed the country's southern province on December 4, killing 700 and displacing 800,000. In addition to an emergency medical air shipment, AmeriCares has provided funding for food, blankets, and personal care items for 1,000 families affected by the storm.
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The Philippines are a diverse group of islands united by a growing population, frequent natural disasters - such as typhoons and earthquakes - and rampant poverty. Since gaining independence from colonial rule in 1946, the Philippines have built one of Southeast Asia’s most successful democracies and emerging markets.

In contrast, poverty and “brain drain” – when skilled and highly-educated citizens relocate to foreign nations due to a lack of opportunity and health risks – has made it extremely difficult for the Philippines to flourish. The country needs and often relies on foreign assistance to aid its own people, respond to national crisis and further grow its economy. Roughly 40% of people in the Philippines live on less than $2 a day. Access to health care is also severely limited on many islands.

Learn more:

• Emergency Response and Disaster Relief
• Medical and Humanitarian Aid
• Help AmeriCares save lives in the Philippines and around the world »

Emergency Response and Disaster Relief

The Philippines ranks among the world’s most disaster-prone countries due to its location on the typhoon belt and the Pacific earthquake rim – known as the “Ring of Fire”. Typhoons, mudslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cause especially heavy damage and high rates of fatalities due to the inaccessibility of vulnerable communities on many of the islands. In the fall of 2009, AmeriCares mounted massive relief efforts to help survivors of back-to-back typhoons. Read about AmeriCares relief efforts to help survivors of Typhoon Ketsana, Parma and Lupit.

In 2008, Typhoon Frank killed hundreds of Philippians and left thousands homeless. In response to this overwhelming disaster, AmeriCares supplied a cash grant for the rebuilding of homes washed away by the cyclone. Read more »

In February 2006 the village of Guinsaugon, located in a vital economic province, experienced a massive mudslide. Nearly 1,000 people were buried in mud reaching depths of 100 feet. AmeriCares provided a grant for the purchase and distribution of medicine, blankets, mats, milk powder, and food. These items were in critical demand and delivered directly to some of the 400 displaced survivors of the disaster.

Medical and Humanitarian Aid

Since 1985, AmeriCares has delivered more than $172 million worth of medicines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the Philippines. AmeriCares and the Sovereign Order of Malta Philippines began its partnership in 1985 to provide humanitarian relief during the political turmoil of the final months of the corrupt, repressive regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos. The Sovereign Order of Malta Philippines is a relief corps charged with coordinating all national aid for victims of epidemics, natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Today, this partnership continues to support health care to people in need by providing medicine and medical supplies for over 70 institutions throughout the Philippines. AmeriCares donations reach hospitals, clinics, orphanages and homes for the elderly. Donated medical aid also supports remote medical and disaster relief teams.

AmeriCares also supports programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. In 2007, AmeriCares delivered six shipments of medicine and medical supplies worth $6.5 million to help medical practitioners provide treatment and care for disadvantaged patients.

Help AmeriCares save lives in the Philippines and around the world »