‘Operation Pearl’ has been launched by YachtAid Global to provide emergency disaster relief to the Philippines in the wake of the devastating super Typhoon Odette/Rai which struck the island nation on Thursday, December 16th, packing winds of over 260 kilometers per hour causing mass destruction, flooding, and casualties across the archipelago.

YachtAid Global has been working with registered NGO partners on the ground in the Philippines executing needs assessment and logistics planning for the rapid distribution of critical life-saving supplies including but not limited to water depot filtration systems and filters, hygiene kits, health and nutrition packs and emergency shelter supplies.

Devastating images of catastrophic damage from the heavy rains, wind, flooding and landslides, in the hardest hit areas of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Palawan, show decimated communities, flattened verdant and agricultural areas, damaged airports, hospitals and clinics, destroyed seaports, vessels and coastal communities, blocked roads and bridges and the utter elimination of access to basic life necessities including power, water, and communications.

Over two million lives are believed to be severely affected, hundreds of thousands have been left homeless, the death toll has risen to close to 400 lives and outbreaks of water-borne diseases due to the lack of clean water for drinking and sanitization is being reported across the islands. Amid the devastation is the ongoing attempt to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Philippines is ranked as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the impacts of the climate crisis getting hit by an average of 20 cyclones each year. Super Typhoon Odette/Rai is one of the strongest to hit the nation in recent years.

YachtAid Global is appealing to our international network of supporters to donate to Operation Pearl to help the people of this climate-vulnerable island nation in this time of great crisis. The link to the secure payment gateway to support Operation Pearl is at: https://yachtaidglobal.org/campaigns/operation-pearl-disaster-relief-for-the-philippines

One hundred percent of all monies contributed to Operation Pearl will go to the disaster relief. YachtAid Global is known for and committed to the judicious use of funds and getting the right aid to the right people at the right time.

Operation Pearl has been named in honor of the Philippines called The Pearl of the Orient Seas. As a pearl finds its beginning as an uninvited visitor to an oyster and emerges as a glistening treasure so do the people and the islands of the Philippines emerge from challenges through the ages with the love and support of each other and the world around them.

100% of donated funds will provide relief to the Philippines.