6 o'clock news tonight - Philipino girl called 'Rebecca', I'm beyond upset

[sicily1921]

Poor broken girl, I didn't even hear them say how old she was (a teenager?) sat on a hosp trolley. Head wound being looked at by doctor who had only basic equipment. She could only give her name she looked so shell shocked. She had laid for 5 days with all her dead family round her. I wanted to weep. Can't get to grips with the horror of it all. Want to talk anyone?

[BMW6]

Yes, I saw that report. I wish I could give that poor girl a long, long hug. She looked totally traumatised

[sicily1921]

Me too BMW6. Lets hope she gets the care she needs.

[elfycat]

I haven't watched this and I won't. I go on a media blackout when disasters happen as I just don't need to see this. Before I made this decision I would get terribly upset, and if I cannot express 'upset' I get angry. Anger with no outlet = not a good thing.

Years ago we would hear about disasters days or weeks later in a black and white print kind of way. Now we are bombarded with sad images in the news; actual bodies, films of people's grief, parents begging for their children to be returned. It might help to raise money for disaster relief or raise a wider search for missing people, but I think it's not good for us as individuals.

Maybe donate something to one of the charities that will be doing things to help. Do a random act of kindness tomorrow on their behalf. Get some rescue remedy (if your woo therapy filter allows) and take 4 doses a day. Turn off your TV and internet news for 24-48 hours and take a walk instead. Shoof through any piles of leaves you find.

[BabyMummy29]

It makes me so angry when people like my mother - retired, bags of money - say "I'm not donating to those appeals. Charity begins at home."

Well they should be bloody grateful that disasters like these never happen in our country.

Perish the thought that anything as inconsiderate as a typhoon would get in the way of their nice comfortable little retired lives.

[OneStepCloser]

Its just so awful, its beyond words really. The DEC has said that it has raised 13 million in 24 hours, which show how fantastic a lot of people are.

Ive found it hard to watch then be obliterated with adverts full of Christmas junk, with things like this we just dont know how lucky we are here.

[JumpingJackSprat]

I find it unbelievable all the UK can spare is a few million and a ship. Well that's the last I heard all we were sending. Surely we can re jig the budgets and find more than what will be a drop in the ocean.

[Shallishanti]

the government said they woud match what was raied by the public

[YoureBeingASillyBilly]

Up to 5 million shalli

[flame04]

I cried xx its devastating xx going to say extra prayers during the night feeds tonight and pledge more money 2mor xxxx

[out2lunch]

donate donate donate

they really need our help :)

I can't watch the tv reports but hopefully they spread the word and make people aware

[Meglet]

yes, I saw her. We are so lucky over here. I've travelled to India and China, bloody hell that stays with you. There are so many vulnerable countries out there .

[hedwig2001]

It was her stillness that got to me. She looked so defeated. I just wanted to scoop her up and bring her home.

[harbinger]

elfycat, I thought I was the only one.

I think that some people, those that are less empathic, sometimes see things in a techno way.

[Tiredemma]

Did you see the young lady who gave birth with the storm going on around her and then walked to get help with the newborn still attached via umbilical cord???

[morethanpotatoprints]

Babymummy

Charity does begin at home and disasters will always happen. You would need charity yourself if you started donating to them.

I agree we didn't used to hear about much until fairly recently and then it was weeks later. I prefer not to know either and veto news at such times. It was affecting my health as there was nothing I could do, and it upsets you, obviously.

[Meglet]

tiredemma yes, my stomach lurched when I saw the lady in labour.

And in a comment-about-a-thread way. I couldn't care less about Xmas adverts, they don't touch me at all. But real news, and real people do.

[wiganwagonwheelworks]

That quote charity begins at home means that you are taught love close to home and it spreads outwards. I hope everyone who can spare anything at all however small donates it to help these poor por people.

[MirandaGoshawk]

I think they said that Rebecca was 13. Poor kid. It's too right what the reporter said - that for her and for so many others, for the rest of their lives they will think in terms of before and after the typhoon. The doctor explaining that he has no swabs, too, was graphic.

I hate it when catalogues come through the door, with 'presents for him' etc - expensive things to buy your beloved that he doesn't want/need & will be forgotten,while people across the world (Syria etc) are suffering from the want of the basics. I won't be buying a load of crap this Christmas.

[BabyMummy29]

In my mother's (and many other people I have heard quote that phrase), charity begins at home means that we should only give money to things in this country and sod those poor unfortunates who live elsewhere in the world

[sicily1921]

The charity 'Shelterbox' look like a good one, if anyone is interested. It's so hard, I've not had a pay rise for years yet I get about 5 charity 'begging' letters per week and you feel bad that you can't donate to everything!!

[MirandaGoshawk]

Me too sicily - how do you prioritise? I found the ones who phone up the hardest to say no to. Thankfully those calls seem to have stopped for now. I have a stash of charity stuff I''ve kept - can't bear to throw away one of those 'Smile Train' pictures so is on a 'to deal with later' pile.

[sicily1921]

It's difficult Miranda, Smile Train is one I have actually given to in the past, well, my DD, who was about 9yr at the time said we must help those children. Of course now I get tons of letters off them! I think if I ever did win the lottery I would probably be giving most of it away.........

[Mumpiring]

elfycat, I know what you mean. It's awful.

I hope the aid can get to them. There are a lot of containers going over but I am worried about the distribution. Our children's school is sending over a container with crackers and rice but won't they need water to cook the rice?

I'm in Ireland and we are mired in self0pity here, it takes something like this to make people think, negative equity? that's still a roof over your head, it's still runnign water, it's still a supermarket nearby and a hospital (fairly) nearby.

I can't imagine losing my entire family and feeling that people the other side of the world were too 'jaded' to care, but I get that people can't wear themselves out getting upset about everything. Somethings suckerpunch you and some things don't. For some reason.