Super-storm Haiyan, referred to as Yolanda locally, made landfall in the Philippines on November 8. The typhoon, which carried winds of over 200 miles per hour and storm surges of over 20 feet, has affected an estimated total of 10.3 million people and displaced approximately 4 million individuals across 44 provinces in the Philippines.
The United States responded to the mass devastation of the storm swiftly. As Manila and Washington have been undergoing negotiations for further U.S. troop rotational presence in the Philippines, the U.S. government’s response highlights the close relationship between the two countries as well as the importance of U.S. Pacific Command’s presence in the region. We take a closer look at the U.S. and international response to Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda by the numbers.
$37 million
The total amount of humanitarian aid the U.S. government, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has given to the Philippine government for disaster relief efforts. On November 9, shortly after typhoon Haiyan hit in the central Philippines, USAID announced $20 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to the Philippines. The U.S. Department of Defense has contributed more than $7 million, primarily for airlifts and logistical support.
571,986
The number of houses damaged or destroyed in affected areas of the Philippines. An estimated 95% of homes destroyed are in the city of Tacloban, the location of the eye of the storm.
Operation Damayan’s relief efforts have included evacuations of displaced Filipinos on C-17 aircraft from Tacloban Air Field to safety in Manila. Source: U.S. Embassy Jakarata’s flickr photostream, U.S. government work.
$1.6 million
China’s humanitarian aid to the Philippines. Beijing significantly increased its total contribution after its initial pledge of $100,000 came under harsh criticism from media and the international community.
1,000
The number of troops from Japan’s naval force that will be deployed to the Philippines, making it Japan’s largest-ever disaster relief deployment. Japan has given a total of $52 million in aid to the Philippines.
99
The number of U.S. marines that were on the ground as soon as Haiyan hit the Philippines. About 900 Marines based at the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan, arrived within the following week. An additional 100 Marines will be flown in the country.
80
Number of aircraft, including 21 helicopters, that accompanied the aircraft carrier U.S.S. George Washington, which arrived in the Philippines three days after the super-storm to deliver relief supplies and conduct search-and-rescue missions.
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