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