Obama announces typhoon aid website

President Obama on Wednesday announced a new White House website linking to charitable and relief organizations working to aid the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

“With so many families and communities in the Philippines in urgent need of food, water, shelter and medicine, even small contributions can make a big difference and help save lives,” the president said in a statement.

{mosads}The massive storm slammed into the Philippines on Friday, and has displaced more than half a million people. According to Reuters, officials estimate some 10,000 people are dead.

Obama also touted U.S. governmental aid efforts, saying military personnel and aid workers were “working around the clock” to help the survivors.

“The first American planes carrying emergency supplies and food for 10,000 families have arrived,” Obama said. “U.S. ships, including the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, are on their way to the scene to help expand search and rescue operations, provide logistical support and medical care, and provide a platform for helicopters to move supplies to remote areas.”

The president said that while recovery efforts “will take years,” that the Filipino people’s “resilience and faith” were “legendary.”

“As you rebuild from this terrible storm, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America,” Obama said.

On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the State Department was partnering with a U.S. nonprofit group to coordinate mobile phone donations for victims. U.S. wireless subscribers can text AID to 80108 to give a $10 donation to a Typhoon Disaster Relief Fund administered by the nonprofit mGive.