AN APPEAL FOR THIS YULETIDE SEASON for the TYPHOONS URDUJA and VINTA Victims

(Updated as of 5PM December 24, 2017)

As the world celebrates the Yuletide Season, many people in several parts of the Philippines, mostly poor families, are badly hit by the two succeeding typhoons - Typhoon Urduja (International Codename Francisco) last week to Typhoon Vinta (Codename Tembin); that left not only huge amount of damage to farms, properties and livelihoods but also severe physical and psychological injuries and many deaths.

Our network partners from Lanao del Norte namely DKMP, LAFCCOD and KILOS KA-Lanao have reported to have their houses and offices submerged in water when a surprising flashflood rushed in last night and hit their areas. Some municipalities severely affected are Munai, Salvador, Sapad, Tubod, Lala and Kapatagan municipalities. As of this time, the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte reported that 42 persons died and 336 are still missing while 4,500 people are spending Christmas day in evacuation centers. Post disaster assessment is ongoing to determine the actual damage caused by the flooding in this area.

In Lanao del Sur, Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong of the Provincial Crisis Committee reported 27 casualties from 9 municipalities of District 1 and 2. Most of the casualties he said are from the municipalities declared watershed areas in District 1 namely Bubong, Ditsaan Ramain and Buadipuso Buntong. On the other hand, in Zamboanga Peninsula 56 bodies were retrieved and thousands of families are on evacuation.

Several farms, houses and road networks are also damaged by the flashflood and heavy flooding in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. These are the same areas reported to have sporadic skirmishes and fleeing civilians past few weeks ago due to increasing armed confrontations between the government forces and the New People’s Army.

Stories from the survivors reveal a common experience – they were caught by surprise when heavy muddy water swiftly flashed down from the mountains bringing in along several debris – mud soil, stones, tree trunks, etc.; - a blatant indication of the worsening ecological destruction (such as logging and mining) that has never been sufficiently addressed to in contrary to reports of improved and good governance. While local government units insist that enough early warning and advisory was given but the people chose to remain stubborn.

Not so long ago, 6 years to be exact, when we heard almost of the same sad story of a killer flashfloods named Typhoon Sendong (Washi) that hit the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. Today, many Sendong survivors are still waiting for the promised reparation and rehabilitation programs. Not to mention the need to build the capacities of the survivors and those others who by then were lucky not directly affected yet remain vulnerable because of poor living condition.

Typhoon Urduja and Typhoon Vinta did not leave without giving a taste of the sufferings to the survivors of the Marawi Crisis where tents and evacuation centers are also flooded with rainwaters. As of now, when only around 20% of the IDPs population was able to return to their original places in Marawi majority remain languishing in their tents and crowded evacuation centers and host families. Specially, that humanitarian aids have come less and less as the days go by.

In this Yuletide Season, may we reflect on what wrongdoings these poor Internally Displaced Persons may have done for them to have experienced such great punishment? Are we just to wait until the next typhoon, or earthquake, or armed conflict to happen again?

Our prayers is for the rest of the days of 2017 be joyful amidst the current humanitarian crises and may the New Year 2018 brings us peace, justice and prosperity!

Lastly, MIHANDs continue to receive donations or solidarity support for the continuing humanitarian response for the disasters’ survivors in Mindanao. If you want to help, you may channel your donation/support to this paypal account - paypal : paypal.me/janpesons or to MIHANDs bank details below:

Account Name : Mindanao Humanitarian Action Network
Account No. : 9353-1085-54
Bank Name : Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI)
Bank Address : Quezon Avenue, Iligan City
SWIFT Code : BOPIPHMM

Thank you so much!

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