Red Cross heads North

More than 700 residents living on the shoreline take refuge on Alcala Gymnasium after pre emptive evacuation due to Supertyphoon Lawin in Alcala town, Cagayan. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

A Philippine Red Cross (PRC) caravan manned by 22 people set out on Saturday for the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela which were badly hit by supertyphoon “Lawin” (international name: “Haina”).

The caravan consists of a rescue van, a wheel loader, a dump truck, a 6x 6 multirole truck, a 4,000-liter fuel tanker, a 10,000-liter water tanker, a hot-meals-on-wheels van, rescue van, two Humvees and two ambulances.

Part of the caravan are two 10-wheeler trucks loaded with emergency relief items such as sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat meals, and 4,000 sets of clothes and shoes.

PRC chair Richard Gordon, who will be traveling to the two provinces via helicopter, said the humanitarian organization would prioritize the rebuilding of homes and schools in the typhoon-wrought areas.

Gordon will be traveling with IFRC head of delegation Kari Isomaa, secretary general Oscar Palabyab and the disaster management services manager, Resty Lou Talamayan.