Active Life: Extending our Hands to ‘Sendong’ victims

Being the world’s deadliest storm before the end of 2011, Typhoon Sendong (International name, Washi) ravaged households, crop fields and some infrastructure in Cagayan De Oro, Iligan, Misamis and Zamboanga Del Norte upon its intrusion on the Philippine Area of Responsibility as a mild tropical depression.

The said storm sweeps at least 1,257 fatalities, and 1,079 people are officially listed as missing. Sendong had affected 102,899 families or 674,472 people in 766 villages in 52 towns and eight cities in 13 provinces. At least 9,433 houses were destroyed while 18,616 were damaged as it struck over the weekend stated by the country’s disaster management chief.

According to the findings studied by American Metrologies Dr. Jeff Masters, the data from insurance broker AON Benfield, said 902 people died during a storm in Brazil in January. Meanwhile, 657 people died during the massive floods in Thailand from June to November before it had been racked the Mindanao part.

In this phenomenon, about 47,000 people have also sought shelter in temporary evacuation sites where food and water are running out.

The victims are still in need of assistance and supports from the different sectors.

Prior to this occurrence, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles wishes to provide prospective donors of the list of items needed by the victims, as follows:

Basketball stars, celebrities create a charity game for the victims of Typhoon Sendong

Immediate Priority

· WASH: water, soap, hygiene kits, latrines

· Non-Food Items: cooking utensils; sleeping kits/mattresses; blankets; jerry cans; mosquito nets; flashlight batteries; underwear for children, men and women, clothing

· Temporary shelters/tents

· Food: ready-to-eat food (with appropriate nutritional content)

· Kitchen utensils and gas stoves

Other Priorities

· Medical supplies and assistance

· Clearing of debris

· Psychosocial support

· Livelihood support

Per the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), they now accept donations of used clothes provided that they are consigned to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

For those that will bring relief goods/assistance by plane, please be informed that Cagayan de Oro Airport can only accommodate aircrafts as big as BOEING 737. Larger aircrafts can use either Davao or General Santos Airports. Davao, which is in the nearest proximity, would take approximately 6 hours of land travel to Cagayan de Oro.

In addition, foreign aircrafts will have to submit their flight details to the Department of Foreign Affairs for the necessary diplomatic clearance.

For cash or check donations, there are private sectors which initiating.

Here are follows:

For SAGIP KAPAMILYA:

1. BDO Peso Account