Nov 12, 2013
Federation Collecting Donations to Help Victims
of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines
The Greater Miami Jewish Federation is joining with The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) as part of the international response to help the victims of the devastating Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
JFNA and Federation’s long-time overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), are consulting with local officials, the Filipino Jewish community and global partners to assess the evolving situation on the ground in the Philippines, where one of the strongest storms on record has caused widespread destruction.Thousands are dead or unaccounted for and millions are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The central city of Tacloban on the island of Leyte is among the worst hit on the Pacific nation.
If you would like to join in the relief effort, click here to make a secure donation online now.
One hundred percent of all contributions to the “Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund” will be allocated directly to the relief effort to provide immediate humanitarian aid to disaster victims.
Checks also may be mailed payable to:
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
4200 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33137
Please note “Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund” in the memo area of the check. For more information, call 305.576.4000.
Special funds like this one are established by Federation to enable members of our community to be part of a Jewish response to help victims of disasters. All proceeds are used specifically by Federation’s partners, such as the JDC, to provide nonsectarian humanitarian relief where it is needed.
As financial support efforts are under way, so are many initiatives to provide physical and emotional support to victims of the typhoon.
The JDC is shipping a container of critically important food, shelter, hygiene and medical supplies to the Philippines and will ensure fresh water, sanitation items and shelter support are available on the ground through its partners, the Afya Foundation and Catholic Relief Services. JDC also will provide "School in a Box" kits for temporary classrooms for displaced children through its ongoing partnership with UNICEF. JDC's advance team of disaster relief and development experts, including a medical doctor and emergency field medic, is heading to the Philippines this week to assess needs and work with its local/international partners and the Filipino Jewish community to ensure maximum impact for survivors. Future efforts may include reconstruction of facilities that have been destroyed, as well as community development, psychosocial/post-trauma counseling and educational programs, with a focus on the most vulnerable populations: children, elderly, women and people with disabilities.
JDC has a long history of operating in the Philippines, where it helped to fight post-typhoon cholera through an Israeli partner in 2009 and has worked to enhance emerging Jewish community life through the inclusion of the Filipino Jewish community members in pan-Asian Jewish events. Through other special funds supported by members of the Jewish community, JDC has provided immediate relief and long-term assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters around the globe – including Haiti, Japan and South Asia after the Indian Ocean Tsunami – and continues to operate programs designed to build infrastructure and community life in disaster-stricken regions.
In addition to JDC, Federation has a long-standing relationship with IsraAID, a humanitarian relief coalition that brings together Israeli and Jewish aid organizations with expertise to provide humanitarian aid in the wake of a disaster. IsraAID is sending teams of Israeli professionals to the disaster zone to offer immediate medical aid and other emergency support to survivors in the affected community. The organization is also opening child-friendly protection and trauma treatment centers using Israeli experts who have years of experience helping people recover from traumatic events.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also is sending experts to assess the situation and provide assistance where needed. JDC will provide life-saving equipment and supplies to the IDF Field Hospital when the IDF arrives.
Providing help to the people of the Philippines has special meaning to the Jewish people. During the buildup to World War II, the island nation courageously offered safe haven to more than 1,000 European Jews escaping Nazi persecution. JDC ensured the emigration of these refugees to the Philippines.
