In response to the deadly earthquake that hit southern Philippines, Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) has allocated $40,000 from its contingency fund for a quick relief intervention.
A QRCS team was sent to the Philippines to conduct impact assessment and prepare a humanitarian plan to help earthquake victims.
For more than a week, the team will make field assessments of the damage, identify intervention priorities, evaluate available resources, and provide aid for the affected populations based on the results of the assessment.
In a statement, QRCS said they met with partners, local community, officials of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in Surigao City, local charities, and representatives of government authorities.
QRCS and the various organisations are working closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Philippine Red Cross.
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake killed at least eight people and injured 200 in Surigao City. More than 1,100 houses were damaged, as well as an airport runway, a main bridge, and water/power supply
networks.
Many residents resorted to stay in public parks due to fear of possible aftershocks.
The basic needs currently on the list include emergency shelter, food and nonfood aid, water and sanitation, and health care, according to QRCS. Longer-term needs include house restorations and livelihood generation.
As the first Arab relief provider to work in the country, QRCS has had a foothold in the Philippines since 2012. Its mission conducted several humanitarian responses to major natural disasters at a total cost of more than $5mn.
Examples of these interventions are tropical storm Washi in 2012 and typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
QRCS staff at a site to assess the damage caused by an earthquake in Surigao City recently.
