The recent typhoon that hit most of the parts of the Visayas, Central part of the Philippines last November 8, 2013 which was feared to have claimed 10,000 lives, brought multiple concerns not only to the dead that lay literally unattended in most of the streets of the cities and the municipalities but also to those who survived and who continuously struggle every day to live since the past days, there has been no sufficient assistance that has immediately reached them.

The degree of devastation was not anticipated by some of the Local Government Units of the areas. It was not anticipated that an entire city, municipalities, barangays and big part of the provinces will be wiped out, leaving the committees established under the supervision of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) immobile, and the Local Police and other security forces incapable of containing the peace and order in the areas since they themselves are victims and have also lost their loved ones. But also for the few local officials who did seriously prepare, the sheer magnitude and strength of the typhoon have destroyed their defenses.

We believe that the areas affected in Visayas do not have the means and capacities to do some interventions because majority of the population was gravely affected thus, it would then be necessary that volunteers outside of the affected areas be deployed and as our Human obligations to help others badly in need. It deeply hurts us seeing the Visayas Victims become dehumanized because of the criminally slow response from the government. People have to take the law into their hands to secure food for their hungry family.

We felt the necessity to intervene because the present situation had stripped-off the remaining dignity among the survivors. What has been left to these people is their fragile dignity being continuously challenged. They had been stripped-off from their remaining humanness because of the Typhoon Yolanda, and now they are willing to bargain their remaining human worth for their survival. There are massive looting incidents and some killings just to have food - a drastic result due to the incapacitation of the government to respond immediately and address the needs of the people. The people are left hungry and thirsty for more than five days now, and no amount of self-worth that has been left can mitigate the situation - thus they resulted from being violent to survive.

The different network of Mindanao NGOs and their volunteers express their sincerity to be part of the positive intervention. Concrete methods such as assessing the areas affected and taking part of the relief operation alongside with the intensive campaigns for Environmental Justice are but necessary. Hence, we are appealing from you to support us in this matter, the financial requirement we need for our mitigated intervention in the calamities and disasters suffered by our people in both the Visayas and Mindanao. We are hoping for your positive response.

They have been stripped off of their dignity…..and it is our moral obligation to show compassion and help bring back a sense of Humanity… amidst total devastation, desperation and destruction…

MA. GITTEL J. SAQUILABON
President
Board of Trustees
RDRRAC, Inc.