
The strength of Haiyan is equal to that of an extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic
Super Typhoon ( Yolanda ) Haiyan
Slammed into the Philippines last Friday was one of the strongest storms ever recorded on the planet with winds of 110 km/hr and gusts of 200 km/hr. This is one of the highest wind speeds ever recorded in a storm in world history. It made landfall as the most powerful typhoon or hurricane in recorded history, as based on wind speed measurements from satellites. The strength of Haiyan is equal to that of an extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic. (Typhoons are the same type of storms as hurricanes). No hurricane in the Atlantic has ever been this strong; Hurricane Camille hit the U.S. Gulf Coast with an estimated wind speed of 120 km/hr and Yolanda was over 600 km wide.
Tacloban,
A city of about 220,000 people on Leyte Island, bore the full force of the winds and the tsunami-like storm surges. Most of the city is in ruins, a tangled mess of destroyed houses, cars and trees. Malls, garages and shops have all been stripped of food and water by hungry residents. Only a trickle of assistance has made it to affected communities along the eastern seaboard, which bore the full brunt of Typhoon Yolanda. It is estimated that more than 10,000 people lost their lives and millions are without shelter and food after Super Typhoon Yolanda swept through the country last week. The national ordeal is not over as millions of Filipinos are reduced to picking up the pieces in order to survive.
I’m a big believer that we need funds but mostly people and legs on the ground to help the affected, funds are good but how much of it will get there, corruption is rife in the Philippines money can’t clothe you and feed you straight up as prices are so inflated, people power and supplies there now will help more. The United States has ordered the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to the sail to the Philippines to provide assistance. The aircraft carrier, which carries 5,000 sailors and more than 80 aircraft, was in Hong Kong for a port visit. It is expected to reach the Philippines Monday, the U.S. government announced it was sending $20 million in humanitarian assistance, including emergency medicine and food. That’s what we need direct assistance now not tomorrow as lives are suffering.
It’s good to see the international countries unite together in aiding the Philippines through cash and most importantly donations, given to the victims of the world’s worst typhoon that hit its different provinces in the Visayas region. Upon initial reports from various news media and organizations the donations from around the world totalled around Php 1.5 Billion. These generous donations from around the globe to help support the Philippines, as the country will try to rebuild after the devastation brought about by Typhoon Yolanda.
Of course we have to be careful in where we send our donations, whether in cash or in kind, in order for the help to get to where it should be to the hands of the people affected by the typhoon.
Donors are advised to conduct due diligence before donating money directly to personal bank accounts. Ask the organization or individual receiving the deposit for an acknowledgement receipt and how they intend to spend the money.
Donations made.
BELGIUM – medical and search and rescue personnel
CANADA – C$5 million
CHILE – humanitarian aid
DENMARK – KR 10 million
EUROPEAN UNION – EUR 3 million
GERMANY – 23 tons of relief goods
HUNGARY – search and rescue personnel and rapid response team
INDONESIA – in-kind donations
ISRAEL- team of medical, trauma and relief professionals
JAPAN – emergency relief medical team
MALAYSIA – medical and search and rescue teams
THE NETHERLANDS – undisclosed financial aid
NEW ZEALAND – NZ $2.15 million
NORWAY – KR 20 million
RUSSIA – rapid response team, rescue workers and an airmobile hospital
SAUDI ARABIA through Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – US$100,000
SINGAPORE – $50,000
SPAIN – in-kind donations
SWEDEN- emergency communications equipment
TAIWAN – $200,000
TURKEY – medics, rapid response team, search and rescue personnel
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Dhs 36 million
UNITED KINGDOM – £6 million and $9.6 million worth of emergency support package
UNITED NATIONS Children’s Fund – $1.3 million worth of supplies
UNITED STATES – initial $100,000 for water and sanitation; Troops, emergency respondents, transportation and equipment
VATICAN – $150,000
The Vatican is so rich and resourceful but self-absorbed. I hope that this makes the Filipinos rethink their devotion to the Vatican, worship god not church officials. The Vatican should of come up with more than $150,000, our country is sending more than $150,000 yearly to maintain the fashionistas Vaticanos