Physicians Across Continents (PAC), the non-government organization affiliated to the Muslim World League (MWL), plans to send a medical team to the Philippines to help the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.
The typhoon hit the provinces of Leyte, Iloilo and Cebu nine days ago causing many deaths and widespread destruction of property.
“The medical contingent will leave as soon as possible depending on the recommendations of a three-member exploratory team which left for the Philippines last Tuesday,” Saad Al-Garni, the PAC’s general secretary and a vascular surgeon, told Arab News on Friday.
The PAC has 400 doctors in the Saudi capital, while about 600 are based in London, Niger, Sudan and Turkey.
Al-Garni said he spoke Thursday to members of the exploratory team who were in Cebu City. The team has found it difficult to travel to Tacloban City due to security reasons and because many of the affected areas are still inaccessible.
“The team will assess the situation from Cebu City and if it’s possible, the PAC will send a six-member team that includes five doctors and one administrative worker.” Al-Garni said the medical team would work with local physicians and other foreign medical volunteers such as Doctors Without Borders.
“The team will stay there for 10 days and if their services are needed after that, we will recruit doctors locally or from other neighboring countries,” he said.
Doctors from the PAC visited Ezzedin H. Tago, the Philippine ambassador, on Monday to inform him about the plan. The Filipino envoy updated them on the extent of the typhoon’s devastation and provided pointers on coordinating their medical relief with Philippine agencies.
The ambassador also provided the group with the most recent adviseries from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on the typhoon’s aftermath.
Tacloban City was the hardest-hit by the typhoon with survivors having nothing to eat. Many have resorted to looting businesses and malls to survive. Others have called for government help.
“Please pity us. We have nothing more to eat. We may have survived the typhoon but we will die of starvation unless help arrives soon,” said a harried Glen Don from the village of Candahug in Palo, Leyte, against the backdrop of a virtual ghost town.
The Philippine government has deployed all its agencies to provide rescue operations and the delivery of food supplies. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lll has thanked the world community for helping the survivors, many of whom have left the city on military planes or buses hired by relatives in Manila.
PAC medical team to head for Philippines
