Dear Friends and Comrades,
As you all know, the Philippines is in an urgent state of calamity due to what is now described by the mainstream media as the worst storm in recorded history- Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. The Social Welfare and Development Department reported that the storm affected 4.28 million people in 270 towns and cities spread across 36 provinces in Central Philippines. Super Typhoon Yolanda packed a blow on Philippine structures 3.5 times more forceful than Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As many as 10,000 lives have been claimed thus far and it is estimated many thousands more will parish due to homelessness, hunger, dehydration and lack of medical aid. The lack of infrastructure, extreme poverty and neglect from the Philippine government continues to worsen the devastation of the many thousands of women and children who have been impacted.
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment-GABRIELA USA and our close affiliates are working together to coordinate disaster relief efforts to meet the immediate needs of those in the hardest hit regions in the country- particularly the Eastern Visayas region. We have endorsed the relief efforts of our good friends in the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), and calling on all donations to be channeled through NAFCON's Bayanihan Relief effort. Please donate ONLINE by visiting www.nafconusa.org and clicking the DONATE button (in the Memo space please write Irma - GABRIELA USA so that we can accurately track all donations received).
NAFCON is a very trusted organization with deep links to grassroots people's organizations on the ground in the Philippines that will ensure 100% of your generous donations will reach those most impacted by the storm.
We must also monitor how this disaster is being used as a pretext to increase militarization in the areas affected. Here is a link to a disturbing development about increased US militarization under the guise of disaster relief- http://bit.ly/1dbip26
In these moments of devastation, it will be our community's people power that will be the leading force in providing adequate relief and rehabilitation that will rebuild the scores of towns and small villages decimated by this storm.
Here are some ways you, your organization, school, or community can support:
- Organize a fundraiser in your community and continuously raise funds for relief and rehabilitation through www.nafconusa.org
- Use your personal, school, community or work social media accounts to help promote NAFCON’s Bayanihan Relief & Rehabilitation efforts by tweeting and posting www.nafconusa.org/programs Example: “Please support grassroots relief effort www.nafconusa.org/programs #HaiyanRelief #YolandaPH #GABRIELAUSA
- Create donation jars or boxes to leave at your workplace or school and ask for donations. Or go out in the community and do door knocking asking for monetary donations.
- Distribute the attached letter of appeal from the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns to you friends, family, and networks.
THANK YOU for your love and solidarity for our Filipino people,
With Love and in struggle,
Irma