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NEWS VISION - December 2006
World Vision Philippines has drawn up a US$1 million proposal to meet the desperate needs of 56,000 survivors in the four hardest-hit provinces devastated by Typhoon Durian.
The money is needed to buy emergency food items like rice, fish and oil, as well as essential items such as blankets, cooking sets and tents over a three-month response.
Four relief teams were dispatched a week ago to begin meeting the needs of some of the more than 800,000 people affected by the typhoon that may have claimed more than 1,000 lives.
Of the 9 members of her family, Glaiza Osabal is the lone survivor after rampaging water washed their house. Guinobatan. Photograph by Dominique Tabora
The relief teams were deployed to the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque and Camarines Sur, which were all badly hit by Typhoon Durian.
Another proposal to meet survivors’ rehabilitation needs is being drawn up. This will focus on housing assistance, livelihood, school and road repairs, and drainage clearing in the four provinces.
“I’m left with only my family,” said Aracelli Echalusi, 60, from Purok 1 village in Padang, Legazpi City.
Echalusi and her eight children survived what she said was the “strongest typhoon to hit the province in her lifetime.” Her family was the only one left in the village.
“We never expected to be wiped out and be buried by huge rocks and mud. I definitely cannot go back to where our house used to be,” Echalusi told WV Philippines staff.
Echalusi and her family escaped death by climbing onto their roof and then clambering onto a higher one.
“When we saw the mud coming towards our house, we immediately climbed to the roof. There was a loud noise coming from the approaching mud and boulders and shouts of help from the people below us. Even before the mud reached our roof, we were able to climb onto our neighbors’ roof, which is higher,” she said.
WV Philippines rapid assessment team member Loida Cabrejas said the village of Padang was like a ghost town with no signs of life.
“I couldn’t hold my tears back when I saw the place. What remained of the village were a number of roofs, wrecked trees, dark mud and huge boulders. The stench in the area was so bad. It reminds us of the Quezon flashflood that happened in December two years ago. But this one, I think is worse than that. I have never been so afraid,” said Cabrejas.
Padang village is located eight kilometers from Legazpi City and has a population of 3,000 families. As of Monday, 2,516 families had evacuated the village. Almost 120 people were killed and 207 missing in the area.
World Vision Singapore has pledged $30,000 to help with aid efforts in the Philippines. To help children and families affected by the floods, please log on to www.worldvision.org.sg for more details or browse our CD collection at http://worldvision.org.sg/st_ourchristainfaith.php with all proceeds going towards typhoon relief.
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