17 January 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Pretoria, through its fund raising drive, was able to raise US$ 32,947.40 and ZAR 48,835.00 for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Since 11 November 2013, donors have been coming to the Embassy to give monetary donations to the typhoon victims. They all expressed sympathies and offered prayers for the Philippines and the disaster-affected communities. These amounts were sent to the Philippine National Red Cross, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Community Transformation Movement and Society of the Divine Word.

In addition to monetary contributions, the Gift of Givers, a South African non-government organization, linked with Rescue 926 of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard, and sent a 20-member team of rescue divers, water rescue paramedics, primary health care workers, a trauma doctor and a pediatrician for sea-based rescue and relief operations in small island communities. The team brought rescue equipment, medical supplies, medicine and nutrition supplements, as well as food, clothing, blankets, linen, towels and toys from South Africa.

Rescue South Africa, a disaster response team, was also deployed to the Philippines by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation to provide humanitarian assistance. Over the course of its week-long stay in the country, the team was able to treat over 800 patients, including those needing to undergo surgical procedures, and repaired the Abuyog General Hospital and Abuyog College. END