Relief efforts begin after typhoon Yolanda

MANILA, Philippines - The US and other governments and agencies are mounting a major relief effort to help victims of the typhoon.

Brian Goldbeck, the acting ambassador at the US Embassy in Manila, issued a disaster declaration to provide an immediate $100,000 for relief efforts. Officials from the US Agency for International Development are deployed around the country to monitor the damage.

Other charities working to provide relief in the Philippines include:

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UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said it has allocated $2 million for the disaster response and officials joined a UN-Government assessment mission to survey damage in Leyte and Samar provinces.

WFP said it will send more than 40 tons of high energy biscuits and work with the Filipino government to help with logistics and emergency communications systems. It asks for donations at www.wfpusa.org or by texting the word AID to 27722 to instantly donate $10.

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UNICEF

UNICEF said that its staff in the Philippines is being repositioned to help in relief efforts and that 66 tons of emergency supplies are being sent from Copenhagen. An airlift set to arrive on Tuesday will include water purification systems, storage equipment and sanitation supplies. Donations can be made to UNICEF at unicef.org/support.

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RED CROSS

The American Red Cross said it has deployed two people to assist with assessments in the Philippines and activated its family tracing services. It asked those looking to support relief efforts to mail a check to their local American Red Cross chapter, with "Philippines Typhoons and Flood" in the memo line. Go to redcross.org for local chapter information or redcross.org.ph to donate directly to the Philippine Red Cross.

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CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations on its website, emergencies.crs.org, as it begins moving supplies and staff to respond to the typhoon.

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WORLD VISION

World Vision said it is putting together resources to assist 1.2 million people, including food, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and protection. It asked for one-time donations to be made at worldvision.org.