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UK aid agencies prepare Philippines relief UK aid agencies prepare Philippines relief
(about 17 hours later)
A state of national calamity has been declared in the Philippines as relief efforts get under way to ease the plight of thousands of victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which swept across the country on Friday. At least 10,000 people are feared dead and thousands of survivors desperately require aid in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan swept across the country on Friday.
There has been massive destruction and loss of life, with as many as 10,000 people thought to have died and thousands more left destitute and waiting for relief efforts to reach them. The Disasters Emergency Committee - a group of 14 UK aid organisations - has launched an appeal to help the victims.
What are the UK Government and aid agencies doing to help? What are the UK government and aid agencies doing to help?
The Department for International Development has pledged urgent humanitarian support for as many as 500,000 people affected by the disaster and has activated the UK's Rapid Response Facility, which provides emergency support via pre-approved organisations in the event of a humanitarian disaster overseas. This includes releasing £5m to partners on the ground so they can provide assistance such as including temporary shelter and access to clean water. On Monday night, David Cameron pledged an extra £4m in aid, bringing the UK's total contribution since the disaster struck to £10m.
He also announced that Royal Navy warship HMS Daring - deployed near Singapore - would be heading towards the disaster to arrive within days.
The Type 45 destroyer will take with it an onboard Lynx helicopter, engineering and first aid expertise, and equipment to turn seawater into drinking water.
At least one of the RAF's Boeing C-17 transport aircraft will be used to move humanitarian aid and large equipment, Mr Cameron added.
The additional support will provide aid flights to the badly-hit area of Cebu, in the eastern Philippines, to deliver cutting equipment, 4x4 vehicles and forklift trucks to help to reopen roads and runways.
Before Monday night's announcement, the Department for International Development had already released £5m to partners on the ground to provide assistance including access to clean water.
The UK is also donating shelter materials, such as plastic sheeting, and household items like kitchen sets and blankets from the UK's stockpile of humanitarian items in Dubai - worth a further £600,000.The UK is also donating shelter materials, such as plastic sheeting, and household items like kitchen sets and blankets from the UK's stockpile of humanitarian items in Dubai - worth a further £600,000.
The government has sent three British humanitarian advisors, who arrived in the Philippines on Saturday. They are working with the agencies on the ground and the government of the Philippines to assess the scale of the need and advise on what the UK can do to help. The government has sent three British humanitarian advisers, who arrived in the Philippines on Saturday.
They are working with the agencies on the ground and the government of the Philippines to assess the scale of the need and advise on what the UK can do to help.
They are also working to ensure the UK is "prioritising the protection of vulnerable women and children".
NHS experts have also been flown with water purification kits and shelter to the city of Tacloban in Leyte province, which was at the centre of the storm.
The government said its contribution would help to get food, aid and shelter to a total of 800,000 people.
The British Red Cross already had workers in the Philippines helping victims of the earthquake which struck the Bohol area last month. They have been redirected to help in the aftermath of the typhoon. Another team has flown out to the Philippines from the UK.The British Red Cross already had workers in the Philippines helping victims of the earthquake which struck the Bohol area last month. They have been redirected to help in the aftermath of the typhoon. Another team has flown out to the Philippines from the UK.
The organisation has contributed £100,000 to the relief effort and is appealing for more donations from the public.The organisation has contributed £100,000 to the relief effort and is appealing for more donations from the public.
It has sent a logistics deployment to Philippines capital Manila, which is being deployed to the badly hit area of Cebu, where the British Red Cross has a distribution hub. Already 280 cubic metres of relief materials have been sent to the area from Malaysia, including 10,000 tarpaulins, 20,000 jerry cans and 47,000 hygiene kits. It has sent a logistics deployment to Philippines capital Manila, which is being deployed to Cebu, where the British Red Cross has a distribution hub. Already 280 cubic metres of relief materials have been sent to the area from Malaysia, including 10,000 tarpaulins, 20,000 jerry cans and 47,000 hygiene kits.
More supplies are due in Cebu from a Red Cross warehouse in Dubai on Tuesday.More supplies are due in Cebu from a Red Cross warehouse in Dubai on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, workers at the British Red Cross's warehouse in Bristol will spend Tuesday loading logistical supplies such as computers, printers, forklift trucks, vehicles, as well as water purification and sanitation kits, tents and heavy duty kit, which will be flown out from Stansted airport on Thursday. A shelter expert will also be on the flight. A spokeswoman said: "It's going to be a long operation. We're setting up for months and years."Meanwhile, workers at the British Red Cross's warehouse in Bristol will spend Tuesday loading logistical supplies such as computers, printers, forklift trucks, vehicles, as well as water purification and sanitation kits, tents and heavy duty kit, which will be flown out from Stansted airport on Thursday. A shelter expert will also be on the flight. A spokeswoman said: "It's going to be a long operation. We're setting up for months and years."
Oxfam has launched a £10m public appeal to raise money to help 500,000 people in the disaster zone. The money will be used for water tanks and latrines to ensure a safe water supply and toilets, as well as providing temporary shelter for people who have lost their homes. The charity says the bulk of its work will be in providing emergency supplies of water, sanitation and shelter. It says communities also need to have power and communications restored and roads need to be cleared so that aid can get through.
The charity has already sent its rapid assessment teams to the affected areas of Samar, Leyte and northern Cabu to provide emergency supplies of water, sanitation and shelter. An aid shipment of water and sanitation equipment from the UK is expected to be dispatched within the next 48 hours. An aid shipment of water and sanitation equipment from the UK is expected to be dispatched within the next 48 hours.
Oxfam will also work on helping people, including those who rely on farming and fishing to make a living, to get back on their feet.
Spokesman Graham Mackay said: "Our main concern is getting relief to the worst affected areas. Because communications are down the real extent of this horrific disaster is still not known."Spokesman Graham Mackay said: "Our main concern is getting relief to the worst affected areas. Because communications are down the real extent of this horrific disaster is still not known."
The charity says the most urgent needs are for food, water and shelter. Communities also need to have power and communications restored and roads need to be cleared so that aid can get through.
Save the Children has provisions stockpiled in a warehouse in Dubai. It is expecting to fly 40 tonnes of medical equipment, materials to build shelters, health and sanitation equipment to the disaster area on Wednesday morning, along with logistics experts and technicians to help with building. It also has assessment teams in the Philippines gathering information on the situation there and on what work needs to be done.Save the Children has provisions stockpiled in a warehouse in Dubai. It is expecting to fly 40 tonnes of medical equipment, materials to build shelters, health and sanitation equipment to the disaster area on Wednesday morning, along with logistics experts and technicians to help with building. It also has assessment teams in the Philippines gathering information on the situation there and on what work needs to be done.
The charity will focus particularly on child protection, setting up child-friendly spaces, where children can play and attempting to deliver books so they can continue some form of learning since many schools have been destroyed. With many children separated from their families, it hopes to help them feel safer and less frightened on their own.The charity will focus particularly on child protection, setting up child-friendly spaces, where children can play and attempting to deliver books so they can continue some form of learning since many schools have been destroyed. With many children separated from their families, it hopes to help them feel safer and less frightened on their own.
It has launched an appeal for money and estimates the cost of its efforts will be $30m (£18.7m).It has launched an appeal for money and estimates the cost of its efforts will be $30m (£18.7m).
Care International UK has a small team already on the ground in the coastal province of Leyte which has been badly affected. Two shelter experts flew out from the UK on Friday and are assessing what needs to be done. A spokeswoman said the charity hoped to help 30,000 families in the province - an estimated 150,000 people - by providing shelter, water and food, which it says are the most immediate needs. Its staff are sourcing supplies in the Philippines capital Manila including rice, cooking utensils and tarpaulins for shelter. Care International UK has a small team already on the ground in the coastal province of Leyte which has been badly affected. Two shelter experts flew out from the UK on Friday and are assessing what needs to be done.
It has also launched a public appeal for money and hopes to raise $5m (£3.1m) globally to fund its operations. A spokeswoman said the charity hoped to help 30,000 families in the province - an estimated 150,000 people - by providing shelter, water and food, which it says are the most immediate needs. Its staff are sourcing supplies in the Philippines capital Manila including rice, cooking utensils and tarpaulins for shelter.