Bangkok--Dec 8--eTurbo news
The last 20 days, four successive typhoons Muifa (“Unding”), Violeta, “Winnie” and Nanmadol (“Yoyong”) battered the Philippines. A state of
calamity has been declared in the affected areas. To date, the disaster report covers 250,000 families comprising about 1.5 million persons who have so far been affected. The death toll has reached 444 persons; 303 injured; and 79 are still missing. 112,181 homes have been damaged of which 28,881 houses were totally destroyed and 84,100 partially. Damage to crops, properties and infrastructure is tremendous. About 200,000 hectares of rice field have been damaged at an estimated cost of PHP1.2 billion, according to PNRC Gov. Cito Lorenzo, former Secretary of the Dept. of Agriculture.
The Red Cross immediately helped in the evacuation of families, and provided first aid treatment to the injured and also gave psychological support to families who suffered trauma. The Red Cross has so far served more that 12,000 families (5%of those affected) in the disaster stricken areas. We intend to serve at least 50,000 families (20% of the total affected) who were worst hit by the typhoons especially those who were rendered homeless.
We are, however, constrained by very limited resources.
Due to the above, PNRC needs your valuable support. We need to raise US$1.8M or about EUR 1.4M in cash, kind or services to sustain our relief operations. This amount will cover only the immediate needs of the worst hit families covering food supply for three days (rice, canned goods, noodles, dried fish) and non-food items that include family starter kits ( cooking and eating utensils, water container), sleeping materials such as blankets, mosquito nets, mattresses, and medicines.
Assessment of the more difficult rehabilitation requirements is underway and will be transmitted soonest possible. Initial field information indicates that 30,000 families will require construction assistance including means of livelihood. This will require more resources.
An all out combined effort by the government, the PNRC and other NGOs is being exerted to help the affected persons. They themselves are doing their best, helping one another and sharing each others’ resources in order to survive. The needs, however, are gargantuan. The disasters put severe stress, dislocation and despondency upon our countrymen, especially children. We therefore earnestly pray for your support.
For your donations, please contact PNRC Secretary General Victor Liozo at Philippine National Red Cross Headquarters, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila tel. (632) 527-0856; 527-0866; 527-0864, [email protected] .
You may deposit cash donations at Metro Bank, Port Area Branch, PNRC Account number 151-2-15100218-2 and fax a copy of the deposit slip to PNRC at fax number (632) 527-0857.
For more information, please contact
[email protected]
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