Gordon launches appeal to International Red Cross
for typhoon Frank victims

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Chairman, Senator Richard Gordon has raised an appeal to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) for humanitarian aid for the victims of Typhoon Frank.

"The Philippine Red Cross has been spending all its resources to provide for victims in 24 provinces and after taking care of the immediate needs of disaster victims, we will need to implement a rehabilitation program over a longer haul. The PNRC's resources may not be enough. There is also a need for search and rescue equipment to look for the hundreds of still missing passengers MV Princess of the Stars as well as victims of other sea mishaps," said Gordon.

He further said that donations from all over the country and abroad have already begun coming in through the Philippine National Red Cross, but the magnitude of the disaster wrought by Typhoon Frank is quite huge and our resources may not be enough. Reports on death tolls and displaced persons are still coming in and we expect the number of those severely affected to climb higher within the next few hours and days. In addition, help in post-disaster rehabilitation efforts are necessary in order to give people a hand in rebuilding their lives.

Gordon noted that there are around 250,000 people in evacuation centers in Iloilo. The Red Cross is sending water sanitation equipment and water tankers to Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Romblon. He also appealed for people to donate medicines for diarhea, respiratory infections, cough syrup, and medicines for children who are more prone to getting sick.

"While Red Cross continues to accept donations in kind, we would prefer to receive cash so we can buy the needed supplies," said Gordon.

The Senator has thanked the United States government for sending an Orion plane, a search and rescue boat, and a helicopter which he has earlier requested to aid in search operations for survivors of and bodies from the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars.

Gordon worked through the weekend, putting off his scheduled trip to the United States, in order to personally oversee the operations of the PNRC. This afternoon he visited Iloilo to oversee Red Cross operations and personally see the damage wrought by typhoon Frank as well as to assess the needs of the people in the area so he can lead national and international rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.