US military, aid groups launch massive relief operation for Philippines

President Barack Obama pledged "significant" humanitarian aid for the Philippines Sunday, as the U.S. began sending marines to typhoon-ravaged areas as part of a massive relief effort.

In a statement from the White House, Obama expressed his sadness over the loss of life caused by the catastrophic storm, adding that “the incredible resiliency of the Philippine people” would help see them through the tragedy.

As he spoke, a team of around 90 U.S. sailors and marines were heading to the archipelago as part of promised American military assistance for its southeast Asian ally.

It followed a command from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this weekend ordering the U.S military’s Pacific Command to assist with the search and rescue operation and provide air support for the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.

The storm made landfall on Friday, ripping through the central Philippine province of Leyte. In the coastal city of Tacloban alone, an estimated 10,000 residents were killed by the typhoon, local officials have said.

The Marines said a team of U.S. forces from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade left for the Philippines from a U.S. base in Okinawa, Japan, aboard two KC-130J Hercules transport aircraft.

Two Florida-based Navy P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft, which had been on a six month rotation to Misawa, Japan, have been prepositioned in the Philippines to assist with search and rescue operations, the Marines said in statement.

At the same time, U.S. aid groups launched a multimillion-dollar relief campaign of their own. World Vision, based in the Seattle area, said a shipment of blankets and plastic tarpaulins would arrive on Monday as a first step in its plan to help some 400,000 people.

A World Vision official based in Cebu Province said there were early reports that as much as 90 percent of northern Cebu was destroyed by the monster storm. World Vision said its shipment of 5,000 blankets and 3,000 tarpaulins, from a warehouse in Germany, would give survivors the material to build temporary shelters.

AmeriCares, based in Stamford, Connecticut, said it had a relief team on the ground in the Philippines and was shipping relief supplies. Garrett Ingoglia, AmeriCares vice president for emergency response said the shipment included antibiotics, pain relievers, wound care supplies and other medical aid for a least 20,000 people.

CARE, based in Atlanta, said it aimed to help 30,000 families with emergency and longer-term assistance. U.S. groups, including CARE, Save the Children and the

American Red Cross, appealed on the Internet to Americans for cash donations.

The American Red Cross, headquartered in Washington, placed emergency response teams on standby and activated a family tracing service.

Al Jazeera and wire services