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Typhoon Haiyan: How You Can Help

Dear Friend,

Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda caused unimaginable destruction and devastation to the Philippines. Thousands of people perished and millions more had their lives upended by this horrific event. For many, life may never be the same. My heart goes out to all those impacted by the storm, and I am dedicated to helping these people recover from this terrible disaster.

I am proud to represent a vibrant Filipino population in the East Bay. Many of my constituents are very concerned about family and friends in the Philippines, but, unfortunately, power outages and severe damage have hampered their ability to reconnect. For inquiries about U.S. citizens in the affected areas, the U.S. Department of State has set up a hotline at 1-888-407-4747, or you can email the U.S. Embassy in Manila directly at acsinfomanila@state.gov.

We are privileged to live in a country that can offer assistance to other nations during times of need, and we have – the United States has pledged $20 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to provide food, emergency shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene support. The Department of Defense also has deployed U.S. Marines and the USS George Washington to the region, and immediate efforts will include search and rescue and humanitarian aid. For more information on U.S. efforts and how to help, you can visit www.usaid.gov.

The Philippines is a key ally of the United States, and we must do our part to help as it rebuilds and recovers from the strongest typhoon on record. I stand in solidarity with all of those impacted, and I hope you will view our office as a resource during this difficult time. If you need additional information, please contact one of my East Bay Offices at (925) 460-5100 or (510) 370-3322, or stop by if there is anything we can do for you.

Sincerely,

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Eric Swalwell
Member of Congress