Ketsana has flooded the homes of at least 400000 people here and the body count is around 200, rising. I have been walking around the city most of the day, but my camera refused to witness. I couldnt find a spot where to buy a new one so fast, so what remains are words to report.
Today it was very sunny and hot, this is good for the city to dry a bit, I guess. But the sun was a bit too much for me and so I decided to go home and rest after four hours of strolling around.
I didnt see many places that were still under water. I saw fireworkers emptying low layered sites, but only rarely. Most of all, I saw mud and trash and dirt all around and everywhere, that started to smell in the sun. I guess this will increase in the next days. The fear of diseases being spread is high.
Reading local newspapers, the flood is of course the only subject here. For the next weeks it is forbidden to rise prices for basic food and everyone is collecting goods and money for the new homeless people.
For that purpose, if you want to add a contribution, fellow readers, this is a good and trustworthy address:
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Subject: URGENT APPEAL for flood victims in the Philippines Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:07 -0700 (PDT) From: GABRIELA Philippines <gabwomen@yahoo.com> To: GABRIELA IR <gabwomen@yahoo.com> Dear Sisters and Friends, Yesterday, 26 September, typhoon Ondoy brought tons of rains to Metro Manila, some parts of southern tagalog and central luzon. Water in our area in Roxas, Quezon City was three stories high; whole families had to get-up their roofs for safety where they had to be rescued. In Sitio Veterans, Brgy Silangan, four houses were swept away by the raging waters from the river. Whole families were inside the houses; so far 50 bodies have already been recovered, many of whom were children. Our members are helping find some of those who are still lost. In one of our areas in Muntinlupa, the overflowing lake and river drove people out of their homes; some were carried away of the current. So far, three children are still missing. Even some of our staff have been affected. Water reached up to the ceiling of the second floor of the house of Obeth, the coordinator of our services department. The family of louie, our nurse, was forced out their house by the fast rising water that reached to the ceiling of their home. The water rose in seconds so they had to leave hurriedly with only the clothes on their back. All are badly in need of food, drinking water, blankets, clothing and even candles. We are still awaiting more reports from our chapters. But more than a hundred families from our areas have sought shelter outside their homes. We are appealing for any help you can give. If the donation is in kind, please directly bring to GABRIELA office at #35 Scout Delgado, Brgy. Bagong Handa, Quezon City. If the donation is in cash, please let us know so we can give instructions on how to send money. Also please cc all e-mails to gabriela25th@gmail.com. Maraming salamat! (Many Thanks) In solidarity, Gert Ranjo-Libang Member, National Secretariat GABRIELA Philippines 35 Sct. Delgado St, Brgy. Laging Handa Quezon City, 1103 Philippines TeleFax: (632) 374 44 23 E-mail: gabwomen@yahoo.com GABRIELA is a grassroots-based alliance of more than 200 women's organizations, institutions, desks and programs in the Philippines. We seek to wage a struggle for the liberation of women and the rest of our people.