WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 11, 2013 – In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Peace Corps announced today that all volunteers in the Philippines are safe and accounted for and that the agency has evacuated its volunteers serving in areas in the Central Visayas.

Peace Corps headquarters in Washington D.C. is in close contact with Peace Corps staff in the Philippines and are receiving regular updates. Peace Corps Philippines is working closely with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and the Philippines government, as well as the international relief organizations on the ground, and will continue to monitor conditions throughout the Philippines.

While Peace Corps hopes to return volunteers to their sites in the Philippines, the safety and security of the volunteers remains the Agency’s highest priority.

Each Peace Corps program has an Emergency Action Plan specific to that country and developed in cooperation with Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the local U.S. Embassy. The plans are evaluated and tested frequently and information is updated as needed. Volunteers are thoroughly trained in their roles and responsibilities and posts are prepared for all emergencies.

More than 8,680 Peace Corps volunteers have served in the Philippines since the program was established in 1961. Currently, 223 volunteers serve in the Philippines. Volunteers work in the areas of education, youth development and coastal resource management. Volunteers are trained and work in Tagalog, the national language, and regional dialects, as appropriate.

To learn more about safety and security in the Peace Corps, visit the Family and Friends section of Peace Corps’ website.