The Philippines Still Needs Our Help

Washington truly epitomises the holiday spirit.

It’s my first holiday season here, and I’m seeing firsthand the spirit of giving across the city. Bell-ringers collecting for the homeless. Toy drives in offices all across town, including our own. Washingtonians’ generosity is making an impact from local neighbourhoods to the far side of the globe. This holiday season we should reflect that, across the Pacific in the Philippines, our generosity is making, and can make, a big difference in appalling circumstances this Yuletide.

It has been a little over a month since the devastating and tragic Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. In a matter of hours, entire cities were reduced to match-sticks and rubble by probably the most powerful storm ever recorded. Entire families lost. Entire ways of life lost forever.

And then, the wrenching, critical struggle of the aftermath. Those lucky enough to survive the initial onslaught face a deadly quartet of hunger, disease, exposure, and social chaos. We all remember the pictures: a woman’s face, contorted with hunger but still looking anxiously to the child in her arms. The tears of a man contemplating the expanse of water that was once his farm. From Tacloban to Tenleytown, anxious loved ones await news of loved ones. Colleagues and family members here at the embassy and around Washington, D.C. were touched by the tragedy, as they were across America, and the world.

The crisis isn’t over. CNN reported this week that more than six thousand people are dead and 1,779 missing in a catastrophe affecting 12 million people.

The relief effort isn’t over, either. As we look back and reflect on the domestic and international response, and chart the way ahead for reconstruction and recovery, we can draw some comfort from the generosity and dedication of citizens and governments around the world.

The US once again leads the world in the size and scope of its response. Its ships, helicopters, and vehicles; its brave marines, logistics specialists and medical personnel; and literal aircraft-loads of food and equipment, bear testimony to the empathy and munificence of this great country. What if the world could not rely on the capabilities, expertise and charity of the world’s truly indispensible nation? It doesn’t bear considering.

And as always, the UK and the US are working together to aid the victims. The UK government is the second-largest national donor, giving £60 million (nearly US$100 million) in cash and kind so far. This infographic shows the span of the UK’s response. It is funding everything from clean drinking water to farming equipment. Royal Navy ships HMS Daring and HMS Illustrious, have already made a crucial difference to aid delivery.

As many as 800,000 Filipino victims have been touched by British benevolence. We hope and intend to reach many more. The international community, led by the UN and Red Cross and involving dozens of nations, large and small from across the globe, is giving what it can. It’s so reassuring, particularly in my line of work, to see that sometimes the world can put aside its differences for the good of humanity. We need to reflect and evaluate. Then we need to look forward and plan. We need to harness what little good can come of the response to a crisis like Typhoon Haiyan, and build on it.

Back here in the Washingtonian Holiday season, the misery of slush, sleet and snow is easily outweighed by the joy of family, food and freedom from work. But let us remember that millions of our friends in the Philippines will have too little food, no work, and heart-breaking family absences this Christmas. The UK’s Disaster Emergency Committee, American Red Cross, and many other organisations still urgently need your help.