MANDALUYONG CITY -- One month after Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) pummeled 325 cities and municipalities across the Visayas and Mindanao regions affecting more than 7.8 million individuals, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continues to provide humanitarian relief to different areas greatly affected by Typhoon Odette.

Typhoon Odette, hailed as one of the strongest typhoons recorded, is similar to Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), which brought torrential rains, strong winds, floods, and storm surges, affecting everything that crossed its path. Although Typhoon Odette's winds were not as powerful as those of Typhoon Yolanda, the damage brought by Typhoon Odette is comparable to, if not more than, that of Yolanda.

According to information from the United Nations Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), 1.36 million houses were damaged, thereby displacing 2.9 million individuals.

Sen. Gordon said that the humanitarian organization continues to provide non-food items which include 2,240 sleeping kits, 1,008 shelter tool kits, 3,698 tarpaulins, 1,190 mattresses, 706-bed sheets, and 157 blankets to individuals who were displaced by the Typhoon.

“Kaagad tayo namahagi ng mga non-food items kagaya ng mga sleeping kits, shelter tool kits, at mga tarpaulin upang maging temporary shelters sa mga nawalan ng tahanan. Kahit papaano ay malagyan ng bubong ang kanilang mga sarili,” Chairman Gordon said. (Philippine Red Cross)