Devastation in the Philippines

[LoopaDaLoopa]

Whole cities still not yet accounted for. :( Estimated 10,000 dead on the island of Leyte alone, according to some sources.

I have close friends who are missing their entire families. :( Why is this not being discussed on MN, or have I missed it?

[BillStickersIsInnocent]

Sorry, I'm an idiot

Oxfam

[AnyaKnowIt]

British is giving six million in aid

[AnyaKnowIt]

Sorry Britain

[Selks]

It is worth discussing so that people can donate. There is going to have to be a massive relief operation. Red Cross is my choice.

Also hoping that Vietnam escapes without much damage or casualties - the typhoon is due to hit there tonight or tomorrow.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

The news from the Philippines this morning sounds like true hell on earth.

[LoopaDaLoopa]

From Rappler

OVERSEAS/ONLINE

For the Ayala Foundation's 'Laging Handa Fund', overseas donors can use this online portal for donations.
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and life-saving supplies to families around the world who are affected by disasters. Donations are welcome through its website. Know more about their efforts in the Philippines for victims of typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan) here.
De La Salle University's Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) is accepting web-based donations from overseas individuals via GlobalGiving.com. Credit and debit card donations accepted. Contact Joseph Rosal, Coordinator for Community Engagement, COSCA at 525-4267 or local 147 for more information.

The Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations through their website and through Caritas Filipinas Foundation.
Victory is accepting online donations for Yolanda relief efforts via BPI Express Online or credit card.
Save the Children is collecting donations through its website. Save the Children has a team on the ground in Tacloban working to respond to this emergency. They are focusing on blankets and mosquito nets for the affected families.
UNICEF is accepting online cash donations thorugh its website.
The 1000 Bear Hugs Project is accepting huggable-sized toys for Tacloban children from November 8 to December 9. Drop-off points for pre-loved toys will be announced on their Twitter profile shortly. Email [email protected] or contact Mon Corpuz at (0917)796-1378
ANCOP USA Foundation for international donations through this website.
Aboitiz Foundation Command Center is accpeting cash donations through the Aboitiz Foundation’s UShare portal. Contact Danny Cerence at (0917)630-8172 for inquiries.
You may also deposit to the following accounts:
Union Bank of the Philippines Account No. 10026-1070944
City Savings Bank Account No. 200-20031301
Contact Rowena Astillo at (0917)630-4484 for inquiries.
United States residents can make tax-deductable donations through the US Philippines Society.
The Olahay Family from Sweden started an online fundraiser to help recover the homes of the children of San Roque, Tanauan, Leyte. You may support their campaign here.
The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada is appealing to members of credit unions and co-operatives across Canada for financial support to aid victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan. Donations can be made online or by mail to the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada, 275 Bank Street, Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2L6. Please indicate that your donation is designated for the Philippines Flood Relief Fund. Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $10.

I'm trying to organise some quick things through school - a box drop (we are nearby, in Malaysia, but there are drop centres in UK too) and maybe a non-uniform day or somesuch. I would encourage other teachers to do something too, and I think it's important that the kids see what is happening.

[Mignonette]

I have already donated.

The reporting is only just starting to impact, sadly.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

A good list Loopa.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I asked mn to put this on as discussion of the day yesterday evening but it hasnt been done yet.

[LoopaDaLoopa]

Good call, I will report your post to see if they might think again

[MasterOfTheYoniverse]

shelter box is another good way to contribute.
Am in HK and there are a lot of local initiatives through international schools and local networks to help.
The problem is that communications and transport are cut on the ground.
The best we can do right now is trust the BIG organizations with specific logistics relief schemes to do their job whenever they can get through to the populations in need of relief.
So please donate and help in anyway you can. Sadly it might be a few weeks before they reach their target but when they do that WILL make an impact.

[LoopaDaLoopa]

very sad

What are the schools doing, Master?

[MasterOfTheYoniverse]

Some are meeting with the filipino consulate staff tonight to coordinate what's best to collect and which channels to use to dispatch.
Its all sma? small scale in the light of whats needed but hopefully well targetted.

[LoopaDaLoopa]

Thanks Master. Have just emailed the Philippines Embassy for advice. I'm sure our community have a lot to give, but I'm not sure of the best way to co-ordinate it.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Shelterbox are superb - its a very targeted way to help.

[Selks]

To be honest, the situation is so dire that it needs co-ordinating by the big aid organisations (plus the Philippines govt and military of course) such as Red Cross and Oxfam who have the skills to do so. I don't think donating to small organisations would be the best idea as it could end up with too many small organisations providing patchy responses, things getting duplicated or missed out etc etc. The big organisations need to do the logistics at this stage and that is where my money has gone.

[Selks]

Not forgetting Medicines Sans Frontieres - another key organisation.

[LoopaDaLoopa]

Embassies, shipping companies and NGOs all over the world are shipping relief items for free.

I made a poster that is generic for people who want to collect boxes. No pics on this section of MN, how to share here?

[LoopaDaLoopa]

here

[hellokittymania]

I'm in Vietnam (Thua-Thien Hue) and although it didn't make landfall in Central Vietnam, it brought flooding and high wind.

I can't imagine what people in the Philippines went through.

[Selks]

I hope Vietnam escaped fairly lightly, Hellokitty.

[timtam23]

The news is just so awful, it is terrible to read the stories of the people searching for their missing loved ones. The pictures are very similar to what happened in Haiti, I can hardly bear to see them

I heard on R4 today that there is talk of the Disasters Emergency Committee getting involved soon, as this is an emergency on a massive scale

I usually donate to the Red Cross or MSF but will put my donation through DEC if they do make an appeal - will wait until tomorrow to see what they are saying

[Sparks1007]

Hi All. I'm just delurking to say that my husband and I are expats living in The Philippines. The situation here is beyond tragic. This really is paradise on Earth. The people are truly beautiful (inside and out) and the country is stunning. To have something like this happen to us is beyond words. We are all in total shock and saddened beyond anything that I could even begin to express on here. Nobody deserves this but we have dealt with so much here in the last year (let alone the years before) that I am amazed at how the Filipino spirit has been able to keep going.

I guess this is an appeal for help. Please, if you have any spare money whatsoever, please donate via one of the big agencies. UNICEF, Red Cross or MSF would be the best options at the moment as they all have people on the ground. They are also better able to coordinate the huge efforts that are needed.

The Filipinos are very resilient people but we do need some help. We are working very hard to restore communications and transportation so that we can get into and out of the affected areas. I have been impressed by the progress they have made so far in the clean up/restoration efforts but we still have a mountain to climb.

Thank-you.

[LoopaDaLoopa]

:) Thanks Sparks :)