In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines received numerous messages of condolence and offers of assistance from a range of international leaders.
Supranational bodies The United Nations said it was going to increase critical relief operations as a result of the devastation caused by the typhoon. Its Manila office issued a statement that read, "Access remains a key challenge as some areas are still cut off from relief operations. Unknown numbers of survivors do not have basic necessities such as food, water and medicines and remain inaccessible for relief operations, as roads, airports and bridges were destroyed or covered in wreckage." The United Nations also began relief operations by this time; however, the severe damage to infrastructure hampered efforts to distribute supplies. The UN activated the Cluster System, in which groups of humanitarian organizations (UN and non-UN) work to restore health, shelter, nutrition and economic activity.
The World Health Organization, which leads the Health Cluster, the largest one, has developed guidance on donations of medicine and healthcare equipment, so that the Philippines receives supplies appropriate for this emergency. According to WHO, many people suffered cuts, wounds, and broken bones during the disaster and others were injured in flooding that followed the typhoon. Interpol announced that they would send in Interpol officers from Lyon to help local law enforcement identify any of the corpses that are unidentified.
The World Health Organization has spearheaded initiatives among help workers, especially from the Department of Health (Philippines), in extending Psychological First Aid to people in typhoon-affected areas. WHO Representative in the country Dr Julie Hall foresees long-lasting effects from the typhoon. She calls for increased preparedness to give support to families and communities for the long-term, citing the need for more trained field workers.
The World Bank Group said it was providing almost US$1 billion to support Typhoon Haiyan reconstruction, including a US$500 million budget support loan and a US$480 million loan for early reconstruction through a national community-driven development project.
Africa South Africa gave humanitarian assistance through sending its delegation composing of medics and aid workers to calamity-affected areas. They also sent over some food and water to help. Algeria pledged $3 million worth of rice as relief goods.
Americas
The government of Colombia, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed its lament toward the dramatic consequences caused by typhoon Haiyan and offered to collaborate in any way possible at the request of the Philippine government. A plan was also implemented to aid its affected nationals and anyone in general with ties to Colombia through its consulate general in Manila. Chile also pledged to send humanitarian aid. Mexico donated US$1,000,000.
Canada Canada announced US$5 million in immediate aid, as well as matching any contributions Canadians would make until December 8. In the first two weeks, Canada contributed US$40 million. Members of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) were also deployed (using a Canadian military C-17 Globemaster) to conduct search and rescue operations in affected areas, provide humanitarian aid, and help repair damaged infrastructure. As well, three teams of rescuers, paramedics and others were dispatched to the disaster zone by GlobalMedic, a Toronto-based NGO, along with large quantities of water purification supplies and equipment."GlobalMedic responds to Philippine typhoon Haiyan", Toronto: Etobicoke Guardian, November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.Connor, Kevin. Toronto medic, firefighter to help typhoon-devastated Philippines , Toronto Sun, November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013. A field hospital manned by the Canadian Red Cross was sent to Iloilo City to help with people there, with a DART team tasked to help them deploy it.Harper says Canada's DART mission heading to Iloilo, Philippines, CTV News website, November 13, 2013.
United States The United States initially contributed US$20 million in aid in food and relief goods; this was later increased to US$37 million. November 19, 2013 The official military relief efforts became known as Operation Damayan.Defense.gov News: "Special Report: Operation Damayan" Twelve V-22 Ospreys from Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 and Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 were immediately deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Japan to assist in delivering supplies;Stars and Stripes: "Marine Ospreys proving their worth in Philippines" By Seth Robson November 21, 2013 and the United States Air Force's 36th Contingency Response Group was deployed to assist with the re-opening of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban.US Airforce News: "Airmen deploy to Philippines in support of Operation Damayan" November 15, 2013 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered the Pacific Command to deploy vessels, including the aircraft carrier and its carrier strike group, to the region and aircraft for search and rescue missions as well as to deliver relief supplies. Other ships in the strike force include the supply ship , the submarine tender , the cruisers and , the destroyers and , the oceanographic survey ship . and the oiler . November 18, 2013 The hospital ship (pictured) was also activated. As of November 17, 19 USAF C-130 Hercules transport planes operating out of Clark Air Base were dedicated to ferrying supplies to and evacuating victims from the region.USA Today: "Philippine president to camp in hard-hit Tacloban" byCalum MacLeod November 17, 2013Stars and Stripes: "People looking to leave typhoon-stricken region face chaos at Tacloban airport" By Seth Robson November 15, 2013 Three C-17 Globemaster III aircraft based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson also flew many airlift flights into Tacloban airport, delivering food, water, and evacuating refugees back to Manila.Defense.gov News: "Kadena Air Base Supports Philippines Relief Effort" By Senior Airman Maeson L. Elleman November 16, 2013Fox News: "Exodus from Hell: Tacloban residents flee area devastated by Typhoon Haiyan" by William LaJeunesse November 19, 2013 They were also instrumental in bringing in Philippine Army supplies to reopen the Tacloban airport. Three amphibious ships based in Sasebo, Japan, the , the , and the were also deployed and arrived on November 19 bringing an additional 1,000 marines to augment the 850 marines already on the ground. The littoral combat ship was also deployed to the region on November 18. A total of 13,000 US military personnel committed to the relief effort.
On the eve of the typhoon, several members of the Philippine-American community in Chicago organized a group called "Help For Haiyan", which became the largest response by an entire U.S. city to help the victims of the typhoon. Over a thousand people volunteered every day for 2 weeks in the bitter cold making local headlines every day and over 20 containers of relief supplies were collected and distributed to help with rebuilding and recovery efforts.
Asia
East Asia
China, also affected by Typhoon Haiyan, donated US$200,000 to the Philippine relief effort. China provided a donation of US$1.4 million worth of relief supplies. China also sent its naval hospital ship Peace Ark. Hong Kong chief executive CY Leung expressed his deepest sympathies for the typhoon victims. There was a call to postpone the proposed economic sanctions on the Philippines as a result of the poor handling of the Manila hostage crisis three years before. The Legislative Council of Hong Kong approved on 15 November 2013 an injection of HK$40m to the government's Disaster Relief Fund for charity organisations to apply.
Japan offered humanitarian assistance and sent an assessment team of two people from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team to the typhoon-affected areas. The foreign ministry of Japan said it would give $30 million in emergency grant aid to the disaster-struck nation, up from a previous $10 million. Another $2 million worth of emergency relief goods and assistance is being delivered through Japanese non-governmental organisations. Tokyo said the total package would reach about $52 million including a $20 million contribution to its poverty reduction fund at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank. In addition monetary aid, Japan also offered military assistance by dispatching three vessels carrying more than 1,000 troops to the Philippines in the largest single relief operations team deployed by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces as well as 10 military aircraft. Amongst the military vehicles dispatched include the transport vessel Osumi and the destroyer Ise. The offer had support from the typhoon survivors.
South Korea has offered humanitarian assistance including Humanitarian teams, emergency relief team composing of at least 34 people, and sent humanitarian aids amounting to $5 million including Relief goods (family tents, water purifiers, beef fried rice, blankets, and sanitation kits) which is transferred from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs to DSWD Philippines at first. The foreign ministry of South Korea said that not only governmental organisations but also the others including non-governmental organisations, enterprises, and other else such as Good Neighbors, and Samsung donated monetary aids amount at least $1.1 million to the disaster-struck nation. Next, an emergency relief team composing of (two batches of medical and rescue personnel, 17-man survey team) people, and more than 520 troops of the Korean Army along with 2 C-130 planes, Bi Ro Bong LST, and Sung In Bong LST for humanitarian transport were dispatched. Also, Government of South Korea will offer $20 million ODA for construction and rehabilitation in 2014–2016.
Taiwan, also influenced by typhoon Haiyan, sent estimated total amount of US$12.3 million donated relief materials (at least 680 tons) and money as of mid-December. Among this, Taiwanese Government pledged $200,000 in relief funding at the first moment. As a close neighboring country of Philippines, Taiwan is the first country delivering relief supplies to Philippines by Navy vessels and Air Force crafts.Love and Empathy Transcend Boundaries: Relief Aid Extended by Taiwan to the Philippines in Wake of Typhoon Haiyan , Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, December 2013 In addition, a 35-person team organized by the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps arrived in the affected areas to provide free medical assistance.
Eurasia Russia offered to send a rescue team of 200 people to calamity-affected areas in the Philippines. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) opened up a hotline for its citizens to keep themselves updated with details about the typhoon and to share information about Russians in the Philippines who may have been affected by the calamity.
EMERCOM personnel and Il-76 planes have been deployed to assist in relief and medical efforts after requests were made from Manila to Moscow, which was officially announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Middle East