Vancouver doctor on her way to Philippines to help after Typhoon Haiyan

A Vancouver doctor is now on her way to the Philippines to help with relief efforts there.

Dr. Christine Hwang is a general physician. She spent two years in Haiti doing relief work there after the earthquake. While she was there, she helped to set up the biggest field hospital in Port-au-Prince.

She says she thinks she will be doing similar work with the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.

Hwang left late Sunday night from Vancouver International Airport, but spoke to us before she boarded her plane.

“My role is part of the Field and Assessment Corporation Team,” she said. “That means I am there to assess the needs and then to coordinate the efforts of the relief that comes in.”

She has worked with the Red Cross since 2007.

“We expect this to be big,” she said of the damage Haiyan left behind. “It will be one of the biggest disasters we will see.”