GTA-based organization providing relief efforts for the Philippines

TORONTO, Ont. – International relief efforts are underway in the Philippines the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, and an organization from the GTA is among those providing assistance to the survivors of the storm.

Canadian-based Global Medic – who’s headquarters are located in Etobicoke – had a team on the ground when the storm passed through, but a Canadian team with Canadian volunteers and a Global Medic staff member is also being sent to the area.

“They’re bringing an additional water purification unit, and they’ll be supporting the Philippines’ team and really ramping up the operation there to get people clean water,” the agency’s Andrew Budziak told 680News.

He added that the full extent of the disaster is not known at this point.

“There are so many areas where Philippine emergency crews have not reached. Some of these areas are still completely cut off, so right now it’s really unknown.”

Budziak said a lot of people on the ground do not know what to expect.

“I heard from one of our local partners that they saw in one of the hotspots a news team begging for water, because they were just so unprepared. They didn’t know how bad it was going to be.”

Budziak plans to head to the region, and he is not sure when he will come home as relief efforts have only just begun.

The typhoon is believed to be one of the most powerful on record to ever hit land, and is likely the deadliest natural disaster for the southeast Asian nation.

To make a donation to Global Medic, click here. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go toward relief efforts.

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