Press release

HMS Daring brings relief to isolated typhoon victims

HMS Daring has arrived in Cebu today to target UK medical assistance, emergency supplies and clean water to victims of Typhoon Haiyan stranded without assistance.

• From: Department for International Development, Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Justine Greening
• Published: 17 November 2013
• Last updated: 18 November 2013 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

HMS Daring in Cebu this morning. Picture: Simon Davis/DFID

Following surveys of remote areas, the ship’s helicopter will begin transporting UK humanitarian experts, medical teams and supplies to areas which have yet to receive outside help.

The launch of HMS Daring’s operations comes ahead of the departure later today of the UK Government’s latest aid flight which will leave East Midlands Airport with 95 tons of supplies from the Department for International Development (DFID), Oxfam and Save the Children.

Justine Greening said:

HMS Daring’s arrival is a major boost to DFID’s disaster experts and medical teams already deployed in the Philippines. This Royal Navy vessel will help us open a lifeline and allow us to help many more victims of the disaster.

Devastation on the north coast of Cebu in the Philippines [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Keith Morgan, Crown copyright]

Regarding the civilian relief flight due to leave East Midlands Airport later today, she added:

More British help is on its way. This latest flight will be full of medical supplies, water tankers and forklifts to get aid moving and help clear bottlenecks at the airports. The British people have shown huge generosity over the past days, and DFID is working with charities to make sure all their donations get to those who need it most.

HMS Daring’s Lynx helicopter has spent three days surveying Panay and other islands near Cebu which have not yet been reached by humanitarian agencies.

At the request of the Department for International Development’s humanitarian field team, the ship will now:

• Transport the UK’s 12-strong medical team: Alongside the ship’s own medical team, they will provide urgent medical assistance on the remote islands. The remaining 6 will go to Tacloban to work alongside the AusAid medical team.

• Load, transport and distribute 500 shelter kits onto previously identified islands.

• Load and transport 10 tonnes of high-energy biscuits to be distributed by Save the Children onto previously identified islands.

• Use its own water filters to fill 1,900 water carriers with clean drinking water across the region.

This is in addition to the ship’s on-board disaster relief pack containing generators and electrical cables, emergency lighting, tools for basic construction, blankets, cutting and drilling equipment, public address systems, emergency shelter, medical items and stretchers. This will enable the ship’s crew to undertake clearance and shelter repair.

A ship lies on its side near Estancia in the Philippines [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Keith Morgan, Crown copyright]

The UK Government’s latest aid flight will take more equipment from DFID’s warehouse in Kemble, Gloucestershire. DFID is also making space available to UK charities Oxfam and Save the Children. The cargo will include:

• DFID: 2,500 jerry cans, 1 medical support module, 1 Land Rover Defender, 4 forklifts, 2 fuel tanks;

• Oxfam: Water and sanitation equipment: emergency water module, bladder tanks, water tankers for trucks, water piping, pumps, hoses;

• Save the Children: Medical supplies for the UK medical team already on the ground: newborn health facility, 40 reproductive health kits, 20 clean delivery kit for mothers, 6 emergency obstetric kits, 30 boxes of hospital supplies, drugs and equipment.

In addition, an Antanov aircraft will also leave later today from Amsterdam bound for Cebu carrying heavy lifting equipment.

For full details on the UK’s response to Typhoon Haiyan, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/typhoon-haiyan-latest-updates-on-uk-aid

General media queries (24 hours)

Email mediateam@dfid.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7023 0600

If you have an urgent media query, please email the DFID Media Team on mediateam@dfid.gov.uk in the first instance and we will respond as soon as possible.

Published 17 November 2013
Last updated 18 November 2013 + show all updates

1. 18 November 2013

   Removal of duplicated paragraph

2. 18 November 2013

   Two new pictures added

3. 17 November 2013

   First published.