Or, are you ready to help further?
Super Typhoon Ferdie (international name: Meranti, a category five storm) left around 10,200 people in Batanes Island which toppled houses and buildings, damaged water and electricity sources, and starving individuals on Friday, September 9. Yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported another tropical cyclone outside the country’s area of responsibility that could follow the same track as Ferdie and is expected to enter the Philippines as “Typhoon Helen” on Saturday.
Operation Blessing (OB) Philippines immediately mobilized its disaster response (DR) team to bring relief to the survivors of Typhoon Ferdie last week. To date, at least 2,600 individuals already received free health check up and medicines, relief packs, and potable water.
Upon arrival in Itbayat, Batanes where Ferdie landed, OB’s DR team was amazed at the Ivatan’s resiliency. Even before the responders entered their province, the Ivatans have already started getting back to their normal lives and in rebuilding of their houses.
Ferdie is the strongest super typhoon to hit the Philippines this year and one of the most devastating storms that barreled across Batanes Island. The onslaught has damaged more than 2,000 homes, 510 of which were totally swept away, while 400 were heavily damaged.
Are the Ivatans ready for another typhoon expected to enter the country tomorrow? At least 910 homeless-families or around 4,000 individuals are surely unprepared and anxious.
Aside from the rubbles of houses they will rebuild, the Ivatans are also challenged by the huge damage Ferdie has caused on agriculture, the residents’ main source of income. Thus, the local government unit of Itbayat is appealing for help because there may be a food shortage in their town for two to three months.
Our hardest to reach kababayans need our help. Let us be inspired by their resiliency that endured the most devastating catastrophe so far that entered the country. This is the time to show them we care. Help OB bring food and shelter kits to the resilient Ivatans. Visit this link or call us at 477 7802 to 04 for more information. Thank you for your help!
Together, we will #RebuildBatanes.
Photos by: Greg Morales and Paulo Quiambao, Volunteer Photographers
