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| This Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Typhoon Haiyan over the Philippines, at 22:30 UTC (5:30 p.m. EST). Haiyan, the world's strongest typhoon of the year, slammed into the Philippines early Friday. It had been poised to be the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded at landfall, a weather expert said. |
Super typhoon Haiyan is called Typhoon #Yolanda in the Philippines. It's now wreaking havoc in Leyte, Samar, Roxas in Negros and the northern province of Cebu. Trees have fallen down, palm/coconut trees got uprooted and hurled in all directions.
The storm surge in Tacloban rose to 20 feet. This tragic event is believed to have claimed about 10,000 lives.
It is said that the intensity of the Yolanda (International Code Name: Haiyan) is far stronger than Hurricane Katrina and Sandy.
The government has prepared the local government units in advance, hopefully enough to lessen destruction and people casualty. Houses were boarded up days before and residents living near the shores or landslide prone areas were already evacuated.
The devastation is heartbreaking. Some news reports have shown anarchy in Tacloban where people are looting everywhere desperate for food and water.
There are not enough words to depict how miserable and horrible the situation is. And it doesn't help that the streets are impassable and communication facilities went totally down and took over three days to be restored. People are hungry and thirsty. There's almost total anarchy in the area.
Over the weekend, we were frantically checking social media sites to look for friends who are residents of the area. We also tried to help our overseas friends who have no contact with their families in the city.
We learned from news agencies that international aid are outpouring. But we know that there is no help that is so little with the situation the victims are in. Even Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte broke down in tears when he arrived in Tacloban. He brought Davao City's relief assistance and the Rescue 911 Team to help in the rescue and medical operations. He felt that the money, the food and help he brought are not enough. The province needs more.
On this thought, a small group of friends of mine are spearheading a drive to respond to the other needs of the victims like underwear, sanitary pads and diapers. Most relief organizations are responding to the basic needs of the residents but we felt that in this drive we can fill the gap.
So today and on the next few days, we are calling on all our friends to send help in cash or in kind.
Xx
Sheng
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| Photo Credit: Huffington Post |
There are not enough words to depict how miserable and horrible the situation is. And it doesn't help that the streets are impassable and communication facilities went totally down and took over three days to be restored. People are hungry and thirsty. There's almost total anarchy in the area.
Over the weekend, we were frantically checking social media sites to look for friends who are residents of the area. We also tried to help our overseas friends who have no contact with their families in the city.
We learned from news agencies that international aid are outpouring. But we know that there is no help that is so little with the situation the victims are in. Even Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte broke down in tears when he arrived in Tacloban. He brought Davao City's relief assistance and the Rescue 911 Team to help in the rescue and medical operations. He felt that the money, the food and help he brought are not enough. The province needs more.
On this thought, a small group of friends of mine are spearheading a drive to respond to the other needs of the victims like underwear, sanitary pads and diapers. Most relief organizations are responding to the basic needs of the residents but we felt that in this drive we can fill the gap.
So today and on the next few days, we are calling on all our friends to send help in cash or in kind.
Xx
Sheng
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