MILLWOOD, Va., Nov. 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global NGO, Project HOPE, announced it will deploy medical volunteers for a humanitarian mission with the U.S. Navy in the Philippines, ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan.
Project HOPE, a global health and humanitarian assistance organization will deploy an Assessment and Response Team to the Philippines initially to plan for the mission. HOPE will assemble and deploy teams of volunteer physicians, nurses and other health professionals to recovery sites, likely within the next ten days.
"This is a tragedy of epic proportions. We are honored to assist the U.S. Navy on this mission to address the urgent health care needs of the people of the Philippines devastated by one of the worst natural disasters to hit its shores," said John P. Howe III, M.D., President and CEO of Project HOPE.
Thousands of people have died after Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall, hit the country last Friday. More than four million people have been impacted by the disaster and hundreds of thousands are displaced.
"HOPE has the finest medical volunteers who are specialized in the immediate and long-term medical needs that arise from natural disasters. Project HOPE has played a crucial role in saving lives in regions hit by disasters over much of the last decade, in Haiti, Indonesia, Japan, China and other parts of southeast Asia," said Dr. Howe.
Project HOPE has been working in the region for over 50 years, first aboard the SS HOPE, the world's first peacetime hospital ship. Since 2005, HOPE has partnered with the U.S. Navy and Air Force on annual medical humanitarian missions.
Project HOPE is also shipping over $1 million of medicines, medical supplies and other equipment to support emergency relief efforts in the Philippines. The five ton shipment of emergency aid includes 25 pallets of donated medicines including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, as well as generators, surgical masks and gloves.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities in the Philippines.
About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world's first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, as well as conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries. www.projecthope.org