A month after it raged through the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan still leaves it mark of destruction today.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A typhoon is much like a hurricane, composed of low pressure systems of tropical origin; its organized thunderstorm activity produces sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. The factor that distinguishes between a hurricane and a typhoon is location of occurrence; a typhoon is typically found in the Western Pacific Ocean. Typhoon Haiyan, recorded as the deadliest Filipino typhoon to date, is the strongest recorded typhoon ever to make landfall.
This horrific natural disaster killed more than 5,000 people. The Huffington Post reported that nearly 1700 people are still missing. In total, about 11 million people were affected by Haiyan.
Many of those affected came from cities and towns in Samar and Leyte. A number of people who fell victim to the rapidly rising flood waters found refuge in the Tacloban City Convention Center, which served as a temporary emergency evacuation center.
- Channel satellite loop of the typhoon as it reached its peak intensity.
Credit: Wikimedia Comons
Major deterioration of the layout, framework, and infrastructure along the Philippines brought procedural challenges that prevented relief efforts from coming onto the scene quickly. Food, water, medicine, and clothing were flown into local airports; these basic necessities unfortunately remained there and out of the hands of the victims in need, as roads were simply impenetrable. Katherine Manik, a country director for ChildFund International, spoke about the necessities of the people affected by the typhoon shortly after it ravaged the land: “There is a critical need for fresh drinking water and food, but it is very difficult to get anything in. There aren’t enough boats. There is no electricity.”
Violence and crime spiked in the Philippines as an after-effect of the region’s devastation and due to the lack of relief workers in the wake of the storm. Various relief trucks were broken into and stolen from, making it even more challenging to help survivors. Several malls and grocery stores were also looted and stripped of essential goods, such as bottled water and preserved foods. In the desperate search for food, even the government rice stockpile warehouse was stormed and robbed. 33,000 bags, each containing 110 pounds of rice, were stolen from the warehouse and, in the midst of the ruckus, eight people were killed.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Responding to such a disaster, thousands of domestic and international aid workers rushed to help as quickly as possible. The American Red Cross, UNICEF, and The Salvation Army are just a few of the countless groups who came together to provide aid. Well-known public figures are also taking a stand in front of the media: Kim Kardashian, for example, is donating all proceeds of her clothing bids on eBay to help the cause. Contributing to our efforts at Hewitt, the Student Service Board collected money to go straight to our partner, AmeriCares, for efficient emergency relief.
Mme. Albino, who teaches Middle and Upper School French, is Filipino-American; she was particularly outraged by the amount of aid given to the Philippines. She commented, “What frustrates me about the typhoon is the reaction of the wealthiest countries that are closest [to the Phillippines] like China and Australia, who gave very little help. Sometimes I feel that the Philippines is disregarded because it is in the third world; the people there are quite poor, and they do not carry any major political weight. China withheld aid due to their own political agenda in the Philippines. This is what angers me in the most — when politics blocks help where help is needed. Because, for the risk of sounding cheesy, we are all humans and are all connected to one another. Nature strikes whomever, whenever, and without permission, and I think we owe it to one another to help where we can. ”
A month afterwards, the death toll now tops 6,000 people, with more victims being found each day. Small steps toward progress are being made, as light and electricity are slowly returning to the Philippines. We can only hope for their quick recovery, whilst remembering disasters from the past, such as the 2010 Haitian earthquake, and how it is continuously yet slowly recovering still today.