22/12/2011
Dear Friends,
I received a message (in Tagaolg) from Cha (Charity Lavandero) who many of you know or may have heard of (she works with the Filipino youth in Mindanao and has been an active member of our international network), about what she went through as a victim of the very recent typhoon and flash flood catastrophy that hit the Philippines. Cha lives in Iligan City, one of the cities that was hardly hit. Though she lives in a high area, the waters came up to 10 feet outside and to chest level inside the house. She was trapped inside (the storm came at 11 pm) and she thought it was the end of her life. She decided it would not be possible to swim through the waters so she just went up to the attic with her two dogs and decided to wait there for her fate, with the fear that their house would be the next one to be swallowed up. No help came, but luckily, the waters subsided at 3 am. She later learned that a few other NGO friends' houses were washed away. Their own house was also no longer safe and could collapse anytime. She also noted something strange, big logs floating around (not uprooted trees), which eventually caused the destruction of the houses they bumped against as they gushed together with the waters. Their organizations are now doing area work to help the victims, internet access is difficult, but she promised to send news and pictures when possible. She ended her message by saying that it was good that no one in their organizations was killed but on the other hand, many livelihoods have been destroyed.
I have attached below the appeal sent by another NGO friend working in the Peace Movement, for you to have more details of the emergency situation and in case you would wish to help out the victims. If you wish to send a note to Cha, here is her e-mail: Charity Care Lavandero [[email protected]].
With best regards,
Sally Rousset
Development and Civilisations Lebret-Irfed
49 rue de la Glacière
75013 Paris, France
An Appeal for Emergency Support for the Communities Affected by Tropical Storm/Typhoon Sendong “Washi” in the Areas of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte
It was midnight of December 16, 2011 when Typhoon Sendong landed in Northern Mindanao including Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City. It brought heavy rains which resulted to flash floods to numbers of communities. As of Dec. 19, 11:00 p.m., it is estimated that there are already 937 people killed, more than 1,500 are still missing, more than 167,000 affected individuals, and almost 20,000 families were displaced that are located in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Zambaonga Del Norte, ARMM, Negros Provinces and of the affected areas of the Philippines.
In Iligan City, as of December 20, 2011, 45,851 individuals were affected or 10,341 families, 279 died while 230 individuals are still missing, and a total of 9,214 properties and infrastructures were damaged (inc. 157 houses recorded as of Dec. 19). The internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iligan City are housed in 16 evacuation centers and relatives. Many of the IDPs opted not to stay in the evacuation centers because of the difficult access to food supplies, facilities, overcrowded, poor sanitation, lack of potable water and limited number or no toilets at all to accommodate evacuees. The flashfloods in Iligan City has directly affected 24 out of 44 barangays.
Based on the initial data gathered by the MPPM network members, urgent needs of the affected families are the following:
- 1st: Food - Rice, drinking water, dried fish, canned goods, mongo, canned sardines, oil, soya sauce, salt, coffee, milk
- 2nd Non-Food - Blanket, mosquito nets, slippers, mats, clothing for children/adults: underwear, shirts, shorts, bra, panties,
- 3rd Hygiene kit - bath and laundry soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, napkins, diapers
- 4th Kitchenware – cooking pots, ladle, cups, drinking glass, tablespoon, pitcher, water containers/jugs, pail, water tubs.
- 5th First aid kit - alcohol, cotton, betadine, bandage, plaster, gauze bandage.
With the current situation of Iligan City and of the entire affected communities, we appeal for your support to help respond to the urgent needs of the communities affected. Any donation can be channeled to our network command center, RDRRAC, (Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center Inc.) at Door 2 Maca-agir Apt., 6th East, Tubod, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte Philippines, telephone number +63 63-223-3171. You may deposit your monetary donation in their savings accounts: