Photo courtesy Canadian Red Cross

The Canadian Red Cross has deployed a state-of-the-art field hospital to the Philippines to support communities affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan.

The field hospital will be supporting the Philippine Red Cross and local health authorities. More than 618,000 people have been displaced as a result of the Typhoon. Flooding, landslides and damaged infrastructure are continuing to cause problems in accessing the hardest hit communities.

The field hospital, which can cover the needs of a population of more than 100,000 people, will provide basic health and surgical care to the communities. As many as 300 people can be treated as out-patients per day, while there is a surgical capacity of up to 70 inpatients beds.

The Norwegian Red Cross and Hong Kong Red Cross are supplying personnel and supplies to the hospital to support the core team of 12 Canadian medical and support staff. The emergency response unit is part of a strategic partnership between the Red Cross and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.