Yolanda Relief Operation

Elyrose S. Naorbe, RAC WVSU

 These past few weeks, the Philippines especially in the Visayas Region were shocked as the undeniably super typhoon Yolanda destroyed a lot of properties, infrastructures and worst, claimed thousands of lives of Filipino people. It caused communication breakdown, power supply destruction and some first necessary commodity such as foods, clothing and shelter shortage.

Aside from Leyte, Cebu and Samar, the northern part of Iloilo, also suffered a total devastation after Yolanda and cleated the same scenario mentioned above.

The Rotaractors together with the Rotarians during the relief goods operation.

After a tragic event and hearing those heartbreaking situations of the affected areas, the Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo in partnership of Iloilo Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross and with the help of Rotaract Club of West Visayas State University organized a relief good operation and medical mission. This is to extend our help especially in giving foods, water and clothing to the victims and give free medicines and consultations to the affected areas.

Around 6 o’clock in the morning when we departed the City of Iloilo heading to Northern part of Iloilo. Our target towns were San Dionisio and Concepcion. It’s  a 2-3 hours travel just to reach the area so what we did was to hope for a safe trip that we may be able to reach the destination and bring a good intention to the victims.

When we entered Barotac Viejo, the first municipality of the Fifth District of Iloilo, we saw some destroyed houses, fields and properties caused by super typhoon Yolanda. We can’t deny the fact that they were really affected by the calamity. In fact, we are very sad upon knowing their real situation given that they told us that what we saw was just a minimal effect as if it’s an article, it’s just only an introduction.

We passed by towns of Ajuy and Sara. Same thing happened- a total devastation. Houses were down; roofs bring crumpled and new infrastructures being ruined. The people don’t know how to start or what to do after the landfall of Yolanda.

We also helped in giving free medicines and consultations to the victims.

We thought that those scenarios were shown or happened only in a movie or television but, reality strikes. It’s not just only a sort of fiction. We saw children along the road holding tin cans and begging for help— a food and water perhaps. Upon seeing those children, we can’t help but pray that they can easily recover in their miserable situation. We observed also that there are words being printed on roads and piece of paper. Some words are being told “Please help us, we need food and medicines”.

At around 9 am, we set our foot to Concepcion. We settled first and started to put up medical area. We also unloaded over relief good operations. During the distribution, we observed that it was not properly organized. The crowd or the victims are increasing and that there are some conflicts on the process or system to avail the relief goods. We saw that the people are starving and that they really need help—food, water and medicines. After the distribution, we proceed to San Dionisio and as we entered the municipal hall, we saw that there are also groups who are giving the same needs. There, we talked to some victims and that they are asking help from us since they are not listed on the registration area. Again, we met some conflicts regarding the dissemination because we want to go on the coastal part of the town because there are already groups in the town aiding the people by giving goods. 

We decided to unload some goods and divided our group, one who will stay in the municipal town and other to coastal area. I, together with Sir Allan, Sir Paul and other Rotarians and fellow Rotaractors, went to the coastal area of Barangay Sua, San Dionisio. We passed along the rough road heading to the remote area of the barangay.

          When we reached there, we started to give foods and water to the victims. Unlike to the previous operation, this was the organized one. Pal, who also lived in the neighboring barangay, helped us in giving goods. We saw smiles from the victims uttering a “Thank You” after receiving goods even their heart is breaking.

A happy faces of children after our Relief good operations.

After the operation, we don’t mind how many hours we traveled, how many sweats being poured out or how much effort we gave. The important thing is that we serve as an instrument of kindness and generosity for others’ sake. Even we can’t provide their full needs; at least, we lessen their sufferings and starvation. I believe that small things for us might be a big help for them. We took some photos inside the car along the way for our documentation. As what Sir Allan had stated and I quote, “We post pictures not to brag what we have done, but to inspire more people to HELP. We were spared for a reason, to help the victims of typhoon Yolanda in any way we can”.