Typhoon Haiyan Info: How to Help

November 20, 2013

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Debris lines the streets of Tacloban, Leyte island. This region was the worst affected by the typhoon, causing widespread damage and loss of life. Caritas is responding by distributing food, shelter, hygiene kits and cooking utensils. (Photo: Eoghan Rice - Trócaire / Caritas) — Debris lines the streets of Tacloban, Leyte island. This region was the worst affected by the typhoon, causing widespread damage and loss of life. Caritas is responding by distributing food, shelter, hygiene kits and cooking utensils. **Photo: Eoghan Rice-Trócaire/Caritas**

USAID/CIDI: U.S. agency leads disaster relief

On November 8, Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the central Philippines, triggering heavy rains that caused widespread flooding and landslides, particularly in East Samar and Leyte provinces.

The U.S. government is providing $20 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to benefit typhoon-affected populations, including the provision of emergency shelter, food assistance, relief commodities, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support.

For information provided by the federal government on how to aid those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, visit the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) website at cidi.org. CIDI was created to educate the public about the advantages of giving monetary donations to relief organizations and the downside of donating unsolicited material goods.

Local Filipino groups collect aid

PIN@Y sa Seattle GABRIELA USA is collecting and remitting monetary donations locally and partnering with the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and the Bayanihan Relief campaign to accept online donations. Donations can be made through NAFCON’s Paypal account at http://tinyurl.com/bayanihanreliefeffort.

Checks can be made payable to “St. George Fontana.” Write “NAFCON Bayanihan Relief” on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to:

Pin@y Sa Seattle
ATTN: Katrina Pestano
c/o Filipino Community Center
5740 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Seattle, WA 98118

Include your return address with your donation. For qualifying tax-deductible donations, email [email protected] for necessary documentation.

“Besides donations, people are also looking for the medical supplies that our exposurists will be bringing with them,” said Jill Mangaliman, a volunteer with PIN@Y. “Tents are in great need right now.”

Comcast offers free calls to Philippines

To help unite families and friends in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Comcast will provide free calls to the Philippines for its 10.5 million Xfinity Voice residential customers nationwide. This applies to calls made to the Philippines by customers from November 8 through November 22.

Credits and waived fees will be automatic, and no additional steps are required by customers. Comcast will cover fees for calls made to both landline and mobile phones. Comcast’s subscriber terms and conditions otherwise apply.