WAILUKU – Mayor Alan Arakawa asks Maui County residents to join him in sending help to the Philippines by donating to the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross is assisting with storm-related damage from the typhoon that hit the Philippines and continues to wreak havoc on the population.

The United Nations’ last count reported some 4,400 people dead and more than 900,000 people displaced from the storm.

“People have no food and water, surgeons are working with limited medical supplies and people are now getting sick from disease,” Mayor Arakawa said.

“For us in Maui County, this disaster hits as close to home as the earthquake in Fukushima, Japan did. As more reports come in, the scale of the disaster becomes clearer and more urgent for those suffering. Now is the time to help our fellow global citizens by donating to the Red Cross, which is the safest and most secure way to make sure your contributions go to where they can do the most good.”

To donate, go to www.redcross.org. The Red Cross Maui Office thanks the Maui community for their assistance, and asks that donations be made through the main website, which is the easiest and most direct way to send help.

In related news, as part of the statewide Aloha For Philippines relief effort, Hawaii’s banks are teaming up to accept donations for disaster victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan.

Members of the public can donate money at any branch of every bank in the state, providing Hawaii residents hundreds of safe, convenient and trusted locations to make contributions.

In a similar coordinated effort during the 2011 Aloha For Japan campaign, banks collected over $3 million for disaster victims.

Participating banks include American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of the Orient, Central Pacific Bank, Finance Factors, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii National Bank, HomeStreet Bank, Ohana Pacific Bank, Pacific Rim Bank and Territorial Savings Bank – all of which make up the 11 member banks of the Hawaii Bankers Association.

“We are deeply concerned about the welfare of the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines,” said Edward Pei, executive director of the Hawaii Bankers Association.

“We are pleased to do our part by accepting donations from our generous and caring community members and forwarding those donations to organizations that can provide direct assistance.”