Day018: Haiyan Journal

Tags: Disaster Relief
Haiyan Path
Haiyan Statistics
Immediate Needs List

 
Pantalan [pier] in Merida, a reminder that there is always peace after the storm. 
Photo by: Jerrick C. 

I had a short conversation with my little sister Hyades who is mitigating the situation in my home town Merida, Leyte Philippines. I can only give an advice and financial aid to them as they rebuild their lives and homes after the super typhoon Haiyan visited our little island.

-relief goods are coming in
-bag of rice and canned goods are delivered to the house
-she purchased roof materials for mom’s house from Cebu [a nearby island], delivery is today
-roof materials cost – P110,000.00 pesos [$2500.00]
-construction workers will remove the old roof, labor cost is around P50,000.00 pesos. [$1100.00]
-there is no home insurance in our town so my mom has to use her own resources
-they are still sleeping in the living room [sala is the pinoy term], she mentioned that her skin had some mosquito bites [she’s from Cebu, taga ciudad ba]
-they have to use a mosquito net when they go to bed
-banks in Ormoc is now back in service
-gas station is back to normal, no more long lines/wait in filling up of diesel cans
-no electricity yet, the promise is by Christmas-there will be light
-auto mechanic is working on the repair of the diesel engine for the ricemill [galingan] so that people can have their raw rice grains milled
-mom is breathing ok, able to talk for a very long time without pause.  she said that she repeats many stories and sometimes getting bored already on listening. i told her to let her talk at will, this is a good workout for her lungs [mom has COPD and needed oxygen at night to aid her breathing]
-there are longer lines in cellphone charging station than the relief lines or water station, i think that is a good sign that people’s needs are not level 1 and 2 anymore.  communication is level 3 in the order of basic human needs – food, clothing, shelter, safety are the most basic needs
-cellphone signal from Smart and Globe are now restored but she said that when she is talking, she has to be still and not move around or else, the signal is lost
-still no internet
-transportation is back
-coconut farms are the hardest hit, this will take years to restore
-a friend is starting a lumber business to supplement copra business
-shelter for homeless are the greatest need, no money to buy basic building materials
-money for the poor is much needed, no financial aid being distributed yet
-government has to intervene for the poor and homeless families, they cannot stand back up without any financial aid
-poor people cannot work because they have no house, they have no money to repair the house [a vicious cycle]
-solution is financial aid or they are given a semi-temporary place to stay so that they can start working again.

ToDo:
1. inquire a list of needy family
2. prioritize list according to the worst
3. send money
4. distribute money