The Hospital Ship, USNS Mercy, to be sent to the Philippines

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Navy Officials have declared that the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship, has just received orders on Wednesday afternoon to prepare on giving aid to the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda local).

Military Sealift Command spokeswoman, Sarah Buford, said The Mercy is currently preparing for the said mission and could probably leave San Diego in the duration of five days if ordered to deploy. Navy officials also say that it could arrive in the Philippines sometime in December.

Other than the USNS Mercy, other help from vessels have already begun as the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group has deployed vessels, Okinawa-based Marines were sent to the Philippines and have been in the island country for several days, along with San Diego-based guided-missile cruiser, USS Cowpens, has left a port stop in Hong Kong earlier than planned to set sail to the Philippines.

Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck last Friday and created complete devastation to entire towns, debris-covered roads, and airports and other transportation services out of service.

The storm has also been recorded to have destroyed at least 80,000 homes and an estimate number of 582,000 according to the Philippines government accounting.

The mercy has been a savior to also other catastrophes and victims from the tsunami in Indonesia in 2005 and earthquake victims in Haiti in 2010 by being sent of humanitarian missions.

How do you feel about the upcoming and the already help given to the Philippines? How about a ‘thank you’? Comment your thoughts below!