Panawagan: How we can help rebuild the Philippines from Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)

 


Super Typhoon Haiyan headed for the Philippines, Handout photo by NOAA/AFP/Getty images

 Last Friday, November 8, the strongest storm to ever make landfall caused widespread damage in the Philippines, particularly in the area of Samar and Leyte in the Visayas. Thousands have died, thousands are missing and thousands of typhoon survivors are now desperate for help. Haiyan (local name, Yolanda) has left so much devastation, wiping out houses, schools, and hospitals along its path. It has been a week since the storm hit and the roads continue to be blocked with debris and casualties. Communication and electricity are still down. As the Philippines is an archipelago, relief goods cannot get to the survivors fast enough. Most have no home to return to and have gone days without food or water. Some of those affected were those already left homeless from an earthquake barely a month ago.
 




Tacloban City after the storm, photo by Dennis Sabangan, epa

  

The best way to help is to donate to experienced humanitarian organizations. My aim here is to inform as many people as possible on the major organizations deploying relief efforts.  This is the fastest and most efficient way we can get help to the typhoon victims.

Red Cross:

http://www.redcross.ca/donate/donate-online/donate-to-the-typhoon-haiyan-fund

Unicef:

http://www.unicef.org/index.php

Save the Children: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

World Vision:

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?funnel=dn&item=2639566&go=item&section=10339&

Habitat for Humanity:

 http://www.give2habitat.org/philippines/ReBuildPhilippines

#ReBuildPH

Global Medic:

http://www.globalmedic.ca/

The Canadian government will match every dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities.

For a full list of registered Canadian charities, click here

I hope the people find it in their hearts to give a little something to help. The Philippines may be at the other side of the world but the need is real and immediate.