Philippine Consul General Says Help Is Arriving -- But More Is Needed
KOREATOWN (CBSLA.com) — Relief is getting through to the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines, but the nation's consul general said Thursday night that much more help is needed.
Hellen Barber De La Vega also delivered some grim news to a gathering at the Philippine consulate in Koreatown.
"Twenty-two thousand, as of today, are reported dead" in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, De La Vega said, drawing gasps from those in attendance. [For the record: On Nov. 15, the office of the Philippine consul general clarified her statement. The number of fatalities as of the previous day was 2,306, not the much larger number she mentioned during Thursday's meeting.]
Nine million people need international aid, she said, adding that such aid will soon be arriving in the form of food, water and money. De La Vega said 53 percent of the country has cell phone service and that the water supply is improving.
She also went over a long list of donors and organizations stepping forward from Southern California and neighboring states.
A representative of the Israeli consulate, Dillon Hosier, also addressed the meeting and announced that his nation would be sending a team to the island nation to build a hospital that will be able to treat 500 people at a time.
"It will include birth facilities and a pharmacy, X-ray, post-traumatic stress treatment. Everything," Hosier said.
The consulate's website has a clearinghouse of information about efforts to aid the nation, including fundraisers, get-togethers and drop-off points for donations. Anyone wishing to donate through the Red Cross can click here for information.
