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UK charities launch Philippines typhoon appeal Typhoon Haiyan: UK doctors to help, says David Cameron
(about 11 hours later)
UK aid charities have launched an appeal to help victims of the devastating Philippines typhoon. A team of 12 British surgeons and paramedics is being sent to the Philippines to help the aid effort following the "appalling devastation" of Typhoon Haiyan, the PM has said.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said it was already responding but there was still a desperate need for water, food and emergency shelter. David Cameron said the team, together with the first consignment of UK aid, would leave shortly.
It will make a televised appeal on Tuesday evening. Earlier David Cameron announced an increase in UK aid. And he welcomed the launch of an appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) as "a vital step".
Typhoon Haiyan is feared to have killed up to 10,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. The UK has already pledged £10m in aid and a Royal Navy warship to help.
It is feared that Typhoon Haiyan has killed up to 10,000 people and has displaced hundreds of thousands more.
"We've all seen the appalling devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, with heart-breaking scenes played across our TV screens," Mr Cameron said.
"Today's Disasters Emergency Committee appeal launch is a vital step to ensure aid agencies can provide essential relief to those most affected by this unprecedented disaster."
He added: "I am proud that the British public have always shown an unfailing generosity for helping those in need and I know their response to this appeal will be no different."
'Desperate need''Desperate need'
The DEC, a group of 14 leading UK aid organisations, said the relief effort was being severely hampered by roads made impassable and airports closed by the typhoon. DEC, a group of 14 UK aid organisations, said it was already responding but there was still a desperate need for water, food and emergency shelter.
"The destruction in Tacloban city, on the east coast, is said to be reminiscent of the Boxing Day tsunami," the committee's chief executive Saleh Saeed said. Chief executive Saleh Saeed said the relief effort was being severely hampered by roads made impassable and airports closed by the typhoon.
"The destruction in Tacloban city, on the east coast, is said to be reminiscent of the Boxing Day tsunami," he said.
"There is currently no food, water or electricity. We can only imagine how much worse the situation will be for families living in towns and remote villages."There is currently no food, water or electricity. We can only imagine how much worse the situation will be for families living in towns and remote villages.
"DEC members are doing all they can to get aid through but they need a huge injection of funds in order to do so. The priorities are getting food, water and shelter to people in desperate need.""DEC members are doing all they can to get aid through but they need a huge injection of funds in order to do so. The priorities are getting food, water and shelter to people in desperate need."
UK broadcasters the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Channel 5 and other outlets will show the appeal following early evening news programmes.UK broadcasters the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Channel 5 and other outlets will show the appeal following early evening news programmes.
The DEC comprises the charities Action Aid, Age International, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.The DEC comprises the charities Action Aid, Age International, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children, said there was a danger that if enough aid was not delivered quickly it would be pregnant women and children who missed out.Justin Forsyth, chief executive of Save the Children, said there was a danger that if enough aid was not delivered quickly it would be pregnant women and children who missed out.
"All the organisations - Save the Children, Oxfam, all the others, the United Nations - are there ready to help," he said."All the organisations - Save the Children, Oxfam, all the others, the United Nations - are there ready to help," he said.
"We need to land the planes, we need to offload them and then we need to get aid to people.""We need to land the planes, we need to offload them and then we need to get aid to people."
National calamity On Monday night, Mr Cameron said the UK was increasing its aid to the country from £6m to £10m.
Meanwhile the UK government said it was increasing its aid to the country from £6m 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 money will pay for aid flights to Cebu in the east of the country, the delivery of temporary shelters, blankets and water purification tablets and sanitation equipment for 300k people. And at least one of the RAF's Boeing C-17 transport aircraft would be used to move humanitarian aid and large equipment, Mr Cameron added.
Mr Cameron has also announced that the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Darling will soon head to the disaster zone from Singapore. The government said its contribution would help to get food, aid and shelter to a total of 800,000 people.
It would take five days to arrive but once in the Philippines brings engineering and first aid expertise as well as the use of a Lynx helicopter. The UN has launched an appeal for $301m (£190m) to help relief efforts in typhoon-hit areas of the country.
The ship also carries equipment to make drinking water from sea water. It says more than 11 million people are believed to have been affected by the storm with some 673,000 displaced.
American military aircraft and ships are being deployed to provide help. Aid is being flown into the only regional international airport at Cebu.
Among other states to have pledged aid are Australia, Aus$9m (£5.8m) and New Zealand, NZ$2.15m (£1.1m).
China, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the US, Vietnam, European Commission and the UN have also announced support.
The aid effort comes after a state of "national calamity" was announced by Philippines President Benigno Aquino.
On Friday one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall struck the coastal provinces of Leyte and Samar.
It then headed west, sweeping through six central Philippine islands.
Reports on Monday said 942 people had died in the typhoon's aftermath, though it is clear the official death toll will rise significantly.
Some 660,000 people have been displaced, according to UN figures, among a total of 9.8 million affected - with many now struggling to survive without food, shelter or clean drinking water.