How to Help Typhoon Haiyan Victims in the Philippines

AI am really saddened to say that despite the best efforts to prepare for Typhoon Haiyan (It has been said to be the strongest Typhoon to hit landfall) the islands in it’s path have been swallowed up by the sea in the form of storm surges that reached 6 meters. Basically it was a tsunami and a hurricane at the same time. Though 800,000 people were evacuated to government buildings, many of these evacuation centres destroyed also destroyed by the super typhoon. I watched a report in ABS CBN of a evacuation centre filled with children that all drowned inside in the storm surge. It is a catastrophe unlike anything the country has ever experienced so I don’t think people realised how bad it could get. Despite being told to evacuate homes that were near the shore, there were people who refused (to protect their homes and belongings from potential looters) and their lives were lost as well. This is really very very sad.

I’ve been trying to look for information on Sagbayan Bohol because my helpers family’s home was destroyed by the Earthquake last October. She thinks her family was living in temporary shelters or tents during the typhoon, but she is not sure. I’ve been reading that many people in Bohol were afraid to go inside buildings and evacuation centres after their experience of the earthquake. This trauma is understandable, but I can’t imagine waiting out a Typhoon as strong as Haiyan at ground level in makeshift tents. I am really afraid because not only are flood and falling debris from hurricane winds dangerous enough, but being soaked in the cold can get them too. I am really praying hard for my helpers family and everyone in the Philippines affected by the typhoon.

You can read more and see more pictures and videos of the devastation in the links below:\

You can also see in this map the areas affected by the Typhoon in RED. Many of the islands of my beloved country were affected.

I am sure many of you would like to help in whatever way you can, even if you are not in the Philippines it is possible to send money via Red Cross and other institutions that are working hard to give aide and support. I am placing links to them below.

DONATIONS to Typhoon Haiyan Victims (“Yolanda”)

Philippine Red Cross (PRC)

Website: www.redcross.org.ph
Contact Number: (+632) 527-000
Bank accounts:

Banco de Oro
Peso: 00-453-0018647
Dollar: 10-453-0039482, Swiftcode: BNORPHMM

Metrobank
Peso: 151-3-041631228
Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2, Swiftcode: MBTCPHMM

Philippine National Bank
Peso: 3752 8350 0034
Dollar: 3752 8350 0042, Swiftcode: PNBMPHMM

Union Bank of the Philippines
Peso: 1015 4000 0201
Dollar: 1315 4000 0090, Swiftcode: UBPHPHMM

*Per Philippine Red Cross website, for donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax bank transaction slip with name, address and contact number to PRC nos. (+632) 527-0575 or (+632) 404-0979

Other ways to donate to :

UNICEF
World Vision Philippines
United States residents can make tax-deductable donations through the US Philippines Society.
RAPPLER.COM
For people in Australia who want to donate CLICK HERE.
For people in the UK who want to donate CLICK HERE.

No amount is too small. Anything you can donate will be appreciated and the act of spreading the word of how easy it is to donate online to your friends and family will be much appreciated. I hope you can share this post to anyone who would like to help the Philippines in this difficult time.

Can you imagine, 12,000 inmates in Muntinlupa Prison, who barely have anything, gave up their food to donated it to the flood victims?

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*Information regarding the details for RED CROSS PHILIPPINES was taken from the official website of the Embassy of the Philippines in Germany.