Podcast with Oxfam staff on the ground available for download for broadcasters http://ipad.io/t5bx
BOSTON, Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- International humanitarian relief and development organization Oxfam is responding to Typhoon Haiyan and currently has four teams in the affected areas (Northern Cebu, Leyte and Samar) providing household level water purification.
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"The coming days and weeks are critical. Hundreds of thousands of people are without food, water, and shelter," said Michael Delaney, director of humanitarian response for Oxfam America. "Families are drinking contaminated water from wells. The threat of disease and malnutrition is high. The need for life-saving emergency aid is immense."
Oxfam will be setting up programs aim to reach 500,000 people affected by the crisis. Our teams are already on the ground, working with local organizations to provide clean water, food and sanitation facilities. Oxfam's goal in the first phase of the emergency is to ensure that 20,000 families - about 100,000 people - have access to food, safe water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene materials and information. As the people of the Philippines recover from Typhoon Haiyan Oxfam also plans to help families get back on their feet financially through cash-for-work programs and distribution of assets like tools and fishing nets.
Almost all homes and buildings the Oxfam teams have encountered have been damaged and many have been completely destroyed. Delivery of aid and assistance has been limited because of the completely devastated infrastructure - including destroyed roads and lack of electricity - throughout affected areas. Trucks and fuel are urgently needed to deliver aid. The immediate need is water for both drinking and cleaning. Food is another key priority. Oxfam and partners are identifying where it's feasible to provide cash to survivors so they can purchase what they need most - an approach that has the added benefit of helping revive damaged local markets.
"Typhoon Haiyan is another tragic example of the kinds of events that are expected to increase in frequency and severity as climate change continues to gather pace," said Delaney. "While Oxfam and other organizations are working to provide much needed assistance to affected communities in partnership with local aid groups and in coordination with the Philippine government, the international community must also take urgent action during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations which just kicked off in Warsaw."
As of today the UN estimate that 11.5 million people are affected by Typhoon Haiyan; 544,600 people remain displaced. Over 380,000 people are in 1,215 evacuation centers across 9 affected regions.
"In the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan, the US government will be mobilizing millions of dollars in aid to help save lives of those affected, but sadly because of outdated regulations on US food aid in the farm bill, the US humanitarian response and recovery efforts could be slowed and may even have damaging impacts on food security in the region," said Delaney.
"Regulations in the US farm bill, which is under debate in Congress right now, mandate that most food aid is shipped from the US on US flagged vessels preventing a quick and effective response. For example, in the aftermath of Haiyan, the first shipment of US rice is not expected to arrive until December 6. Because of these rules aid could be delayed or even have damaging effects on farmers in the region when US food aid saturates the market."
Oxfam America is a global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions. For more information on Oxfam's response in the Philippines, or to donate, please visit: www.oxfamamerica.org.
SOURCE Oxfam America
