Update : Rescue Global in the Philippines

Update : Rescue Global in the Philippines Operation Phoenix

11/20/2013 Ongoing

Update 03/12/13

MISSION OVERVIEW Rescue Global made the decision to deploy a Pathfinder team to assist in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines a few days into the crisis when it became clear that there would be an ongoing need, potentially stretching into weeks. With a need for accurate reconnaissance, especially in areas which were geographically isolated there was an identifiable role for Rescue Global’s skills and assets. Our method of deployment and self-sustainability would ensure that our contribution would add value to the aid effort immediately. That hope quickly turned into reality following our arrival into Cebu, collaborative engagement with the aid cluster community and subsequent deployment into areas of need.

OUR OBJECTIVES (1) Deploy safely to all locations where we can provide assistance. (2) To link with the United Nations cluster at Cebu and ensure that our assets can be maximized. (3) To receive all situational assessments in order to understand current and future needs and tailor our efforts to ensure we achieve our primary aim based on need. (4) To conduct further assessments to deliver aid based on the Rescue Global priorities of water, food, medical and shelter. (5) To provide multi-agency coordination and support to enable partners to work collaboratively within the cluster system and with the local Philippine authorities. (6) To conduct disaster reconnaissance from the air and on the ground.

The Rescue Global King Air  The charity’s own King Air 90c aircraft not only ensures we have round-the-clock ability to deploy at short notice it also provides both a vital reconnaissance platform and an essential aid to transport within a crisis zone. Already in the Philippines it has been invaluable due to its resilience and short field take-off and landing capability.

It has resulted in our Pathfinder team being able to complete crucial reconnaissance missions over outlying islands and to land and work with local communities to better understand their immediate aid needs

OPERATIONAL SET-UP Upon arrival at Cebu our Pathfinder Team established an OPs room as well as securing ground support for our aircraft. Meanwhile back in London, HQ staff had been on 24hr operational watch following the decision to deploy.

RECONNAISSANCE & RELIEF Our Pathfinder team quickly established that a remote archipelago, the Cuyo Island Atol, represented an area where there could well be need. A survey plan was prepared, emergency rations were secured and loaded into our aircraft. Our initial prognoses proved correct. Six islands were assessed by as in serious need. Our Pathfinder team worked with local leaders on one of the larger islands to establish a supply chain which would ensure that the aid supplies we had flown in would be taken by boat to those in most need. This first wave of reconnaissance complete, the next task was to feed this new information into the multi-agency coordination center in Roxas. There our Commanding Officer met with DFID and a liaison officer from HMS Illustrious briefing them on our finding, and the population of approx. 5,000 which were in need of further aid supplies. Based on our new information HMS Illustrious was able to set sail immediately to deliver aid to these communities. Additionally Rescue Global is working with a local aviation firm and several boat owners along with our own aircraft to ensure local supply chains are reliably resourced. Our team is now continuing with further assessments and feeding back to the UN cluster. Meanwhile further relief and recovery projects have been identified and planned – including wide scale water filtration distribution and reconstruction work. To be covered in the next mission update. For more details of our efforts in the Philippines you can visit the news section of our website http://www.rescueglobal.org/news, follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/rescueglobal and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RescueGlobal