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Philippine Disaster ReliefNancy Holt — Stratford, ON When Mount Mayon erupted the damage was contained to a fairly small locale near the summit. But, as Ken related, the typhoon caused disaster. The devastation was catastrophic.
On November 30th, as the rain and wind bashed against their modest structure, they huddled in a corner for five to six hours hoping for the best. Marinalla cried and begged for her life the entire time. As soon as the eye of the storm passed over them, the house began to shake. They could instinctively tell that it would fall and the family evacuated their house. Not minutes later the soil gave way and their house was swept away. The typhoon passed twelve hours after it began. The only thing they could salvage were some clothes. Nothing of the structure remained. All personal and household items, meager as they were, were gone. They do not have the means to rebuild so they are currently residing with family. All four sleep directly on a concrete floor. As I asked Purita about the bedkit gift and requested she tell me which of the two items were of the most use and her favourite, she was completely flabbergasted. This was an impossible task. Every item will be utilized and deeply cherished, she told me. This gift has changed their lives!
The children whose homes were damaged, destroyed, or buried six months ago received precious items that will allow them to thrive in school, increase protection against mosquitoes and therefore against a host of diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, and West Nile. And they will have a comfortable night’s sleep thanks to SCAW’s generous donors from across the globe. |
It is not known exactly how many people died in this event, but approximations near 3,000. Hundreds are still missing, thought buried under metres of rock, soil, and debris. Over 100,000 people lost their homes, businesses, and land. Those who had so little lost everything. There were so many stories, but I would like to share just this one.
Purita Saliree, a grandmother and guardian of eight-year-old Marinalla, lives with her husband and adopted thirteen-year-old son. Their home was located on a hillside in the Iolad District of Oas. Purita’s husband works in the rice fields as a labourer during planting and harvest; however, the work is seasonal. She herself works twelve hours a day, four days a week, laundering clothes. The family income is approximately $1 CDN a day. They struggle to earn enough to feed the family.
Our overseas volunteers designated 60% of the bedkits of this trip to the impacted area. All SCAW bedkit recipients had a look of joy as they were handed their bedkit but due to the hardship these kids have endured over the past six months, the smiles were even wider!