Singapore 19th Dec 2011 – The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) will be sending a six men team to the Philippines on Wednesday, 21 December to assist in the distribution of immediate relief items and food supplies to survivors of the Typhoon Washi which struck southern Mindanao on 17 December 2011.

The team will be working alongside its sister national society, The Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC)’s disaster response team.  They will be distributing the relief items to the hardest hit communities in the temporary relief centres operated by PNRC and the local authorities.  Over 500 were declared dead and thousands were left homeless.

The SGD550,000 relief includes contribution of SGD50,000 from the Singapore Government as well as a generous donation of SGD300,000 from an individual donor, Ms Elaine Low.

“We feel especially bad for our neighbours in the Philippines because this is a time where most should be celebrating the festive holidays.  To be hit by such a calamity a second time in the last two months is really beyond anyone’s imagination. "Together with the Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC), the Singapore Red Cross is committed to help those affected with much needed food and relief supplies to tide them through this difficult time”, said Secretary General of Singapore Red Cross, Mr Christopher Chua.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, a total of 24,700 families equivalent to some 135,100 persons have been affected. 16 were injured and 309 missing with 432 rescued survivors. 8,100 families (45,000 persons) are currently being assisted by the (PNRC) in 47 evacuation centres. A total of 1,334 houses have been completely damaged while 3,070 others have been partially damaged. In Surigao del Sur in particular, located in the CARAGA region, agricultural damages are reported at worth more than PHP 1.2 billion (estimated at USD 27.5 million).