UK's Philippines appeal raises £13m

[Terpe]

The DEC said donated money would be used to provide food, water and shelter


An appeal by UK charities to help Philippines typhoon victims has raised £13m ($20m) in its first 24 hours.

The storm hit the Philippines on Friday, killing more than 2,000 people, and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched its appeal on Tuesday.

The DEC, which brings together 14 major UK charities, said the response had been "overwhelming".

The UK government has pledged to match donations up to a total of £5m, on top of £10m it has already agreed to give.

DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said much of the money donated would help emergency teams provide essentials such as food, water and temporary shelter.

"It's clear that people are getting desperate," he said.

"It's vital that we continue to respond to their needs, and that the UK public continues to give."

John Plastow from one of the DEC charities, Care International, said: "We need resources so we that can respond to the huge food, water and shelter needs that are there on the ground and are likely to remain for a long time to come."

The Salvation Army UK and Ireland has launched its own disaster appeal for the Philippines.

Local representatives from the organisation, which has 79 churches in the country, is making arrangements with the Philippine Air Force to transport food parcels, water and medical supplies. Its officers have also been visiting some of the affected areas.


The UK-chartered plane carrying emergency shelter kits arrived in Cebu overnight


The Salvation Army in the Philippines has been preparing food packages of rice and tinned goods from its warehouse in Manila


Aid for the Philippines is also being readied at Oxfam's warehouse in Bicester, Oxfordshire

Struggling to survive

The DEC said the amount of money given had exceeded the donations received in the first 24 hours of previous appeals, after disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Mr Saeed added: "The initial public response has been overwhelming - people have given so generously in such a short space of time.

"They have obviously been moved by the heart-breaking stories coming out of the Philippines of those struggling to survive."

The money has been raised from online, text and phone donations.

Officials in the Philippines said 2,275 people were confirmed dead and at least 3,665 were injured.

The UN says more than 11 million people may have been affected and some 673,000 displaced by Typhoon Haiyan.

The first UK aid flight has arrived in the Philippines, carrying almost 9,000 emergency shelter kits.

The kits, flown from UK stores in Dubai and to Cebu airport, each contain equipment such as plastic sheeting and rope designed to shelter a family of five.

Charity World Vision, one of DEC's members, will distribute the kits.

The Department for International Development (DfID) said several other UK humanitarian flights were due to land in the Philippines in the coming days.

They would be delivering forklift trucks, 4x4 vehicles and cutting equipment to help clear and reopen runways and roads.

A 12-strong emergency medical team, requested by the Philippines Department of Health, and a Royal Navy ship are also on their way to the country.

Captain Angus Essenhigh, of HMS Daring, said he expected the ship to arrive on Saturday.

He told the BBC its mission would be to provide "life-saving assistance" such as water, shelter and food.

Meanwhile, US military planes have been arriving at Tacloban, a devastated city of 220,000 on Leyte island, delivering World Food Programme supplies, which can be carried by helicopter to outlying regions, and a French-Belgian field hospital has been set up.

The charities that make up the DEC are Action Aid, Age International, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Plan UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.

To donate to the DEC appeal, people can visit the committee's website
Call 0370 60 60 900
Send a cheque made payable to DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal to PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA
To donate £5 you can text HELP to 70000. Texts cost £5 and the whole £5 will go to the DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal.
You must be over 16 and ask the bill payers permission. For terms, conditions and full information go to dec.org.uk

Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24928593

[Terpe]

How DEC funding works

The DEC's 14 member charities all have "standing emergency funds" to "get things moving in the first hours after a disaster", a DEC spokesman said.

Appeals are launched as quickly as possible, he said, but while that happens, charities can use reserves which the DEC can later replace.

Once donations start coming in, the DEC examines the rate and uses its knowledge of previous appeals to estimate how much money will be raised.

The spokesman said charities can then be told "roughly what they can expect from us".

"They can actually commission a ship, a plane, pallets of food, tarpaulins or whatever they need on the basis that they know the money is coming," he said.

Using this method, he said, charities can respond long before they receive the money they need to help people affected by disasters.

Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24928593

[Terpe]

British Filipinos hold events for victims


Thousands of people have been left homeless after Typhoon Haiyan left a trail of destruction on Friday

With more than 2,200 people killed and many thousands left homeless by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, British Filipinos' thoughts are turning to ways, however small, that they can provide some help to those affected.

Fashion photographer John-Paul Pietrus, who is half-Filipino and half-American and has "lots of family" in the Philippines, said he wanted to raise awareness of the disaster, while doing something "personal" to help.

"My aunt's home town was completely destroyed and she lost some people. It made me feel quite powerless when I heard what had happened," he said.

He plans to raise money by selling limited-edition prints of model Naomi Campbell for £20 until midnight on Thursday. Proceeds will go to the Red Cross disaster fund.


Mr Pietrus, who is based in London, has worked with Naomi in the past and said she was a "natural choice" because of her links to the charity Fashion for Relief, which she set up in 2005.

"I gave Naomi a call and she was up for it," he said. "I chose this particular photo because she looks peaceful and strong and calm. I would like serenity to come to the affected areas of the Philippines, so it's very symbolic."

Joysel Livelo and her husband Miguel are putting on a fund-raising event at Bar Rumba in London for more than 200 people on 6 December and have booked former Sugababes singer Mutya Buena, whose father is Filipino, to help raise the profile of the event.

"I wanted to put something on to help the younger generation to get involved in raising money to help their families in the Philippines," Mrs Livelo said.

"As soon as I heard about the typhoon I started thinking of ways to help. Originally it was going to be a small party with local Filipino performers, but we've had such a huge response."

Mr and Mrs Livelo are both from the Philippines, but their families were not affected by the typhoon.

"Luckily our families live in Manila, so they're safe," Mrs Livelo said.

"Being Filipino, I knew that our community, which is very tight-knit, would help, but I didn't realise what an incredible response we'd get from British people overall. It's been overwhelming."

Michelle Gumayagay, a teaching assistant at Franciscan Primary School in Tooting Broadway, London, is planning to organise a cake sale and non-uniform day to raise proceeds to help survivors.

She said she was hoping and praying every day for news of her aunt and three children, who live in the Philippines but have not been seen since the typhoon hit.

"We're still looking for them," she said. "We're watching the news all the time and worrying because there's no electricity, no phone lines and no food.

"We check the list of names of survivors every day. We're just waiting, praying and hoping that someone will find them and get through to us."

Anz Densfor, who is from the Philippines, has organised a charity photoshoot in Kensal Green, London, on Saturday with proceeds going to the victims of the typhoon.

"I'm asking for donations from amateur and professional photographers who are coming to the photoshoot," he said. "I want to do what I can to help my people."

The Philippine Centre in Hounslow, west London, which had organised a fund-raiser to help those affected by last month's earthquake in Visayas, described news of the typhoon as "devastating".

It has now extended its event on 24 November in London to raise funds for the victims of the typhoon as well.

There are more than 120,000 Filipinos living in England and Wales, an estimated 25,000 of whom are working as nurses.

The Philippine Nurses Association of UK is holding an open charity donation day drop-in event at the Philippine Embassy, in London, on Friday and Saturday from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT.

Michael Duque, the organisation's president, said that the drive, which is seeking useful items including canned food, blankets and tents, in return for 'prizes' such as the chance to have a professional photoshoot, was intended to help people "get involved" and "start off the mobilisation".

He told the Guardian newspaper that many nurses had chosen to help from the UK, rather than travelling back to the Philippines.

"Instead of spending £800 on an airline fare, they would rather donate it or send it to their family," he said.

Other events taking place include:

A special mass will be held at Westminster Cathedral on Friday at 17:30 GMT, led by Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, in remembrance of the typhoon victims
A solidarity mass for survivors will take place on Saturday at 16:00 GMT at the Holy Redeemer Church in Oval, London
Greenwich Filipino Community's food-sale fund-raising campaign will be held Sunday at 10:00 GMT at St Peter's Church, Woolwich New Road, London
Two samba bands - Oya and Someone at the Door - will busk in Birmingham City Centre on 30 November. They will be joined by members of the local Filipino community


Proceeds of the sale of the limited-edition Naomi Campbell print will go to the Red Cross disaster fund

Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24929251

[stevewool]

amazing what can happen when we all pull together

[Terpe]

amazing what can happen when we all pull together

Yes Steve, truly amazing.
What a compassionate and generous response. Despite hard times for many.

[stevewool]

lets pray and hope that all will get to where it should be

[Terpe]

lets pray and hope that all will get to where it should be

Thing is there's really no alternative.
When there's a natural disaster on this scale everyone needs those specialised organisations to function on all cylinders.

Governments, politicians and local authorities just don't have the understanding or wherewithall to handle the situation in the best way.
Of course it's not going to be perfect, but the logistics are just so difficult.

We can see with our own eyes the international aid getting moved around and those dedicated and brave emergency aid workers doing their best to meet the desperate need.
Lots of money I'm sure has already been used up with little outcome, but so much of this is a real time learning experience.

Lets keep pushing and doing what we can....so so much to do. It will take years.

[stevewool]

years indeed and lots of international help too for that time, no country can do this alone and lets hope the countries stay as long as they are needed

[Michael Parnham]

If we text to DEC charity via LEBARA they double the it!

[bigmarco]

Fantastic initial response from the UK. Lets hope the news organisations continue to lead with the story as this will surely keep funds rolling in.

[gWaPito]

shared The Filipino Global's photo.




5 U.S Marine C130 Plane landing in Samar may mga Pagkain
na dala from U.N , the Politicians are not allowed to touch the relief goods. Thanks
God.


PHILIPPINE POLITICIANS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE RELIEF GOODS!


Thank you good SAMARITANS!May God bless you!
Malaking sampal sa gobyerno na hindi na pahawakan sa kanila ang mga relief goods,pati mga taga-ibang bansa wala ng katiwa-tiwala sa kanila.
It's a good move para makakain at maka-survive na sa gutom,mabihisan na ang kanilang mga damit,maibsan na ang mga dinaramdam nila kahit papano.Dahil kung nagluluksa man sila ngayon sa pagkawala ng mga Pamilya,kamag-anak,anak,kaibigan,magulang,kapatid o kapitbahay,mas matindi na ang gutom at uhaw na nararamdaman nila dahil sa bagal kumilos ng gobyerno natin.At pag magtagal pa,baka di na nila makayanan,nakakalungkot.Kung bakit ang dami ng dahilan nila ngayon na di makarating sa mga lugar na nangangailangan ng tulong.Nasaan na ang mga relief goods at mga donasyon?Bakit mukhang hindi nakakarating sa mga biktima ng bagyo?Ipapaamag ba muna bago ipamigay?Dios Mio,mahabag naman kayo!---DG

[Rosie1958]

Thing is there's really no alternative.
When there's a natural disaster on this scale everyone needs those specialised organisations to function on all cylinders.

Governments, politicians and local authorities just don't have the understanding or wherewithall to handle the situation in the best way.
Of course it's not going to be perfect, but the logistics are just so difficult.

We can see with our own eyes the international aid getting moved around and those dedicated and brave emergency aid workers doing their best to meet the desperate need........

Well said, Terpe, an informed and intelligent posting ! I made my donation to DEC last night.

[Jamesey]

....those dedicated and brave emergency aid workers....

Well said!

I have a friend who has shunned a well paid job and a comfortable life to do this sort of work. He has my utmost respect.

[alesypalsy]

Wonderful hearts people have here, how genourous we can be when rough times are around us.
This is the worst calamity I believe I have ever witnessed and I am moved that so many are helping.
Well done