Emergency teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) arrived in Cebu (located in the central Visayas region, between Negros and Leyte) on Saturday 9 November. They have not yet been able to assess the full extent of the needs as access to the affected areas is extremely difficult; Tacloban airport has been destroyed, many of the roads are blocked and it is almost impossible to make telephone calls. These conditions will inevitably hamper the needs assessment and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

MSF is strengthening its team with an additional 30 people including medical personnel, logisticians and psychologists arriving in the following days. MSF is also sending 200 tonnes of medical and relief items which will arrive in Cebu within the next three days. A first cargo plane leaves from Dubai tomorrow, while a second one leaves from Ostende on Tuesday. The humanitarian cargo includes medical kits for treating wounded, material for medical consultations, tetanus vaccines, and relief items such as tents and hygiene kits.