QRCS allocates $100,000 for emergency response to Philippine earthquake

In response to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Abra Province and other parts of northwestern Philippines late in July, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) activated its Disaster Information Management Center (DIMC) on 27 July 2022, deployed its field personnel for damage assessment in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross, and allocated $100,000 (QR 365,000) from its Disaster Response Fund to launch an emergency humanitarian intervention. The relief plan involves distributing food supplies to 500 families, or 2,500 people, worst affected by the quake, as well as deploying a food truck to distribute fresh meals. Meanwhile, QRCS is coordinating with the Philippine Red Cross and Movement partners to organize emergency relief interventions and identify the target areas and real needs, which will then be provided. Situation assessment reports show 10 deaths, 349 injuries, 24,901 partially or completely destroyed homes, 50,514 evacuees, and 1,007 families hosted by makeshift shelters. In total, the earthquake affected more than 1,784,258 people. The relief aid already delivered by QRCS to the Philippine Red Cross greatly helped to meet the needs of numerous victims, especially the water tankers deployed around the affected areas to distribute clean drinking water to the local community and displaced people. QRCS began its work in the Philippines in 2012, as the first Arab humanitarian organization to operate there. Since then, relief interventions and development aid have been provided in the areas of food security, shelter, health care, and nonfood items (NFIs), at a total cost of $5.9 million (QR 21.6 million). QRCS has responded to many disasters that struck various regions of the Philippines, including, but not limited to: Tropical Storm Washi (2012), Typhoon Haiyan (2013), Surigao earthquake (2017), and Typhoon Vinta (2018).