In the past week the Red Cross has been preparing for and responding to a number of natural disasters that have struck India, the Philippines and Viet Nam.
India: Cyclone Phailin
The cyclone struck India’s eastern coast bringing widespread devastation and flooding to the coast of Odisha. While close to 1 million people were evacuated, thousands remain stranded by the flooding caused by heavy rains.
The Indian Red Cross is mobilising emergency relief items, clean water supply and shelter materials and has deployed emergency teams to assess the affected areas. Reports indicate that 250,000homes may have been damaged or destroyed.
Philippines: Earthquake in Bohol
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Bohol in the Philippines at 08.12 this morning, causing damage to buildings and disrupting communications. Philippine Red Cross chapters in Cebu and Bohol have mobilised emergency response teams and ambulances.
Viet Nam: Typhoon Nari
Typhoon Nari made landfall in central Viet Nam this morning. Over 120,000 people in the path of the storm were evacuated and initial reports indicate that there has been considerable damage to homes in some of the provinces including Quang Tri and Quang Nam which were hit 2 weeks ago by Typhoon Wutip. The Viet Nam Red Cross is providingrelief materials and emergency shelter materials to affected families.
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