Thanks From The Philippines...

... but a month later, NHK World reports that almost 4 million people are still displaced by the November 8 typhoon.


Almost 4 million people are still living in shelters in the Philippines one month after the year's most powerful typhoon hit the country.
Typhoon Haiyan swept through the country's central region on November 8th, bringing torrential rain and storm surges.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says 5,796 people are confirmed dead and 1,779 others remain missing.

On Sunday, people in the affected areas attended Masses. In Tacloban, the main city of hard-hit Leyte Island, hundreds of people gathered at a local church from early in the morning and prayed for the victims.

The island's coastal regions still lack electricity and running water.

The Philippine government and international organizations are continuing relief activities, distributing supplies and providing medical services.

They are also trying to speed up reconstruction efforts, including building infrastructure and temporary housing. (Dec. 8, 2013)


And here is a good interview in The Mainichi with a Japanese paramedic who spent the past month helping survivors in Tacloban on the island of Leyte.

Comments

Pandabonium said…
Before 3/11, my wife thought I was a bit wacky for my emergency preparations. But after the fact as I was able to provide her with drinking water, light, food, even water to flush the toilet, she changed her tune. In our case, none of it was life or death (thankfully) but it greatly reduced the psychological trauma.

As we saw in Japan in 2011, it is really difficult to catch up to a situation like the Philippines just experienced. Preparation ahead of time means a lot. Households, neighborhoods, towns, should all have supplies and plans ready ahead of time so that when the inevitable happens the response can be immediate and can fill the gap until major help from outside can arrive. Countries most at risk should be mobilizing resources ahead of time as insurance.

And forget the 3 days that we are often told to plan for. Try for 2 weeks minimum.
Martin J Frid said…
Good to hear you were prepared, many were not. Esp. emotionally... The government mentality had mostly gotten people to not worry that a severe accident could happen. But preparation is vital for people living in tsunami areas, and as we saw in The Philippines, an unusual weather phenomena. Electricity outages to my mind remain something that we all need to consider much more seriously. Esp. in winter, many people would not be able to heat their homes.

Here is the list of emergency goods I worked on back in 2005 when at Japan Offspring Fund. I would add "batteries" for your flashlight (make that flashlights). Regular batteries were quickly sold out/pulled from the shelves in the spring of 2011. Some of the goods are for people who live in the immediate vicinity of a nuclear power plant or near chemical plants.


Emergency goods for earthquake and nuclear safety

The following items should be stocked as emergency goods:

Maps
Seaweed (tororo kelp): decreases the intake of radioactive iodine which causes thyroid cancer – eat large quantities
Duct tape and aluminum foil: use to seal windows and doors to avoid radioactive particles to enter

Face masks (One DS3 mask will last 24 hours. DS2 masks last 12 hours or less)
Shoe covers
Polyester gloves
Raincoat
Towels
Head protection (including hair cover)
Band aid
Plastic bags
Garbage bags

General emergency goods

Radio
Flashlight
Water and food
Emergency medical supplies
Sport shoes
Pen/paper
Bank cards
Postal savings book
Valuables
Tom O said…
Can I just add a couple of old fashioned things like a book or two, a candle or two and a wind-up radio? Oh, and a pen and paper? Poste Restante desks still exist around the world, the joy is inestimable - the member of staff goes off to check and when they come back, with an envelope in their hand, and even before you get it you recognise the writing as in the address. Pure unbounded joy. Really, just try it..

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