BICOM

The IDF has despatched a preliminary assessment team to the Philippines after the country was struck by an enormous typhoon which initial reports suggest has killed at least 10,000 people.

A statement said that the team of five officers from the Home Front Command has set out “in order to closely form a situation assessment and infrastructure evaluation that would determine the best rapid response the IDF could offer to the Government of the Philippines.” The team left in accordance with a directive given by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Israel’s government. The Home Front Command is highly trained in disaster rescue techniques and has provided assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters in numerous countries, including the earthquakes in Haiti in 2010 and the following year in Turkey.

Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines’ east coast on Friday with winds reaching up to 170mph, causing massive destruction and cutting off large parts of ravaged areas. Regional police Chief Elmer Soria told Reuters, “We had a meeting last night with the governor and the other officials. The governor said, based on their estimate, ten thousand died”, primarily from drowning and collapsed buildings. Interior Minister Manuel Roxas commented, “I don’t know how to describe what I saw. It’s horrific.”

In addition to the IDF delegation, IsraAID, an Israeli-based humanitarian organization, said it was preparing to send a team to the Philippines this week to help treat the hundreds of thousands hit by the storm. IsraAID Chairman Shachar Zahavi said, “IsraAID is aiming to send a team consisting of medical, trauma and relief professionals,” adding “Our local counterparts in the most devastated areas of Leyte and Samar islands are reporting that over 90 per cent of houses collapsed.” Israel’s emergency medical, ambulance, disaster and blood bank service, Magen David Adom (MDA) is reportedly also considering sending a team to help the International Red Cross efforts in the Philippines.