November 10, 2013—Emergency teams from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) arrived in Cebu, the Philippines, on Nov. 9. They have not yet been able to assess the full extent of the needs as access to the areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan is extremely difficult. Tacloban airport has been destroyed, many of the roads are blocked and it is almost impossible to make telephone calls. These conditions will inevitably hamper the needs assessment and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

MSF is strengthening its teams with an additional 30 people including medical personnel, logisticians and psychologists arriving in the coming days. MSF is also sending 200 tons of medical and relief items, which will arrive in Cebu within the next three days. A first cargo plane will leave from Dubai tomorrow, and a second will depart Belgium on Tuesday. The humanitarian cargo includes medical kits for treating wounded, material for medical consultations, tetanus vaccines, and relief items such as tents and hygiene kits.