By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 11/11/2013
Three days after the world's most powerful typhoon hit the Philippines, thousands lay dead on the streets of Tacloban City and nearby areas, government has yet to determine the extent and magnitude of the damage, and frenzied mobs looted homes, stores and even aid convoys. At least 5 provinces in Western Visayas have declared a state of calamity, allowing them to spend emergency funds to rehabilitate their areas. Initial reports showed at least 9.5 million have been affected by the super typhoon that one senior police official said might have killed 10,000 people in Tacloban City alone, an estimate that President Benigno Aquino III dismissed as premature. Most towns in Leyte and Eastern Samar remain isolated and could only be reached via helicopters or boats, making it difficult for relief goods to reach starving typhoon victims.
Mobilizations are being done by OFWs, notably in Hongkong where a vigorous drive to gather relief materials by Migrante International chapters, intended for the victims of the hurricane force typhoon. In Italy, UMANGAT-MIGRANTE in response to SAGIP-MIGRANTE call to actions, has already begun to solicit funds and a bigger group of Filipino Communities has organized a fund raising drives for the the immediate relief needs and reconstruction of schools damaged by the typhoon.
Meanwhile, indications shows that the ordeal was still far from finished. It is feared that landslides caused by soaked hillsides which are denuded by uncontrolled logging and minings may occur in various zones of the affected areas.
To make things worse, another atmospheric disturbance, is entering the same path covered by Yolanda.
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