The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Dec. 19 launched an emergency appeal to raise 20 million Swiss Francs ($21.6 million) to help 400,000 people whose homes have been destroyed by Typhoon Rai that struck the Philippines last week.
At its strongest, the typhoon packed sustained winds of 121 mph and gusts of up to 168 mph before it blew out Friday into the South China Sea. Police revealed that at least 208 people were killed, 52 remained missing, and 239 were injured.
